Galeichthys peruvianus Lütken, 1874
Peruvian sea catfish
Galeichthys peruvianus
photo by Eakins, R.

Family:  Ariidae (Sea catfishes), subfamily: Galeichthyinae
Max. size:  35 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  demersal; marine
Distribution:  Southeastern Pacific: Peru.
Diagnosis:  This species is distinguished by the following characters: slender head and body, with body posteriorly well tapered; pointed caudal fin lobes, upper lobe longer; long and narrow caudal peduncle; lateral body with silvery to reddish stripe; tooth patches posterior to premaxillary tooth band slightly separated at midline; Anterior gillrakers on first arch 13-15; external skull with shallow, narrow dorsomedian groove, extending from interorbital area to base of supraoccipital; cranial fontanelles (of exposed skull) set within steeply-welled median cranial depression, or fissure, with nearly parallel sides; rugose skull, striate and tuberculate in part; swimbladder angularly heart-shaped and anterior margins more triangular than rounded, longitudinal septum of posterior chamber of swimbladder traversed by one smaller septum; aortic canal on ventral side of Weberian apparatus uncovered by lamellae (no aortic tunnel formed); Müllerian ramus of fourth vertebra with irregularly textured, ovoid, concave facet on ventral side; posterior (humeral) process of the cleithrum broad and blade-like (Ref. 85159).
Biology:  Found in coastal waters (Ref. 9271). Marketed fresh and also reduced to fishmeal (Ref. 9271).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 21 May 2007 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  traumatogenic


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