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Siluriformes (Catfishes) >
Ariidae (Sea catfishes) > Ariinae
Etymology: Ariopsis: Greek, ari = very, strength, superiority + Greek, opsis = appearance (Ref. 45335).
More on author: Günther.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; brackish; demersal. Tropical; 25°N - 15°N
Central America: Mexico, Belize, Honduras, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 35.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 58022); common length : 25.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 3265)
This species is distinguished from its congeners by the following characters: gill rakers on the first and second gill arches 31-36 rarely 37, on first gill arch only 14-18 rakers; 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 anteriorly as medially; pterotic lateral margin markedly convex, sometimes angled; mouth 10.5-13.2% SL; cephalic shield at frontals area 8.8-10.1% SL; mesethmoid median portion narrow; mesethmoid medial notch narrow and deep; longer pectoral-fin spine 18.2-22.6% SL; external posterior branch of lateral ethmoid columnar and thin; fenestra delimited by mesethmoid and lateral ethmoid conspicuous (Ref. 116660).
Cross section: oval.
Consumed mostly fresh.
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Marceniuk, A.P. and N.A. Menezes, 2007. Systematics of the family Ariidae (Ostariophysi, Siluriformes), with a redefinition of the genera. Zootaxa 1416:1-126. (Ref. 58022)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2025-2)
Threat to humans
Traumatogenic (Ref. 58010)
Human uses
Fisheries: minor commercial
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