|
Ariopsis guatemalensis (Günther, 1864) Blue sea catfish |
|
|
photo by
Robertson, R. |
| Family: | Ariidae (Sea catfishes), subfamily: Ariinae | |||
| Max. size: | 54 cm TL (male/unsexed) | |||
| Environment: | demersal; freshwater; brackish; marine; depth range 0 - 20 m | |||
| Distribution: | Eastern Pacific: Mexico,(from the mouth of Colorado River, Sonora) to Costa Rica. | |||
| Diagnosis: | This species is distinguished from its congeners by the following characters: mesethmoid median portion wide, medial notch of mesethmoid large and shallow mouth wide 13.0-15.2% SL; cephalic shield at frontal area wide, 10.0-11.5% SL; cephalic shield at lateral ethmoid area wide 14.3-15.3% SL; distance between anterior nostrils wide 7.1-8.6% SL; distance between posterior nostrils wide 7.2-8.7% SL; osseous medial groove absent; fleshy medial groove of neurocranium conspicuous or inconspicuous, but never surpassing posterior margin of eyes; lateral margin of sphenotic straight, as wide medially as anteriorly; pterotic lateral margin markedly convex, sometimes angled; pectoral spine long 18.2-20.5% SL; external posterior branch of lateral ethmoid columnar and thin; fenestra delimited by mesethmoid and lateral ethmoid conspicuous (Ref. 116660). | |||
| Biology: | Abundant in marine and brackish waters (Ref. 9271). Also enters freshwater (Ref. 36880). | |||
| IUCN Red List Status: | Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 22 May 2007 Ref. (130435) | |||
| Threat to humans: | traumatogenic | |||