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Ariopsis assimilis (Günther, 1864)

 

Image contributors to this species:

Pablo Granados-Dieseldorff (1)

ScotCat Sources:

Etymology = Genus  Etymology = Specific names

Other Sources:

Search  FishBase  Catalog of Fishes  Global Biodiversity Information Facility  FishNet2  iNaturalist

Relevant Information:

Description: Body wider than its height at pectoral girdle area, progressively compressed from pectoral to caudal peduncle, ventrally flattened from pectoral girdle to anal origin. Lateral line sloping ventrally on anterior one-third, extending posteriorly to caudal peduncle, bending abruptly onto dorsal lobe of caudal. Dorsal spine relatively short and thick, shorter than pectoral spine; anterior margin granulated on basal two-thirds, with weak serrations on distal third; posterior margin smooth on basal third, distal third with weak serrations. Seven dorsal soft rays. Pectoral spine moderately long and thick; two-thirds of anterior margin weakly granulated, with weak serrations on distal third; posterior margin straight on basal one-fourth, distal three-fourths with weak serrations. Nine to eleven pectoral soft rays. Posterior process of cleithrum triangular smooth to rugose, slightly visible. Pelvic fin deep and large at base, with six rays, and well-developed fleshy protuberances in adult females. Adipose fin low, with base moderately long, shorter than anal base. Anal fin moderately high and long at base, with 16–19 rays and ventral profile convex. Caudal peduncle moderately high. Caudal-fin forked, dorsal and ventral lobes relatively long, dorsal lobe somewhat longer than ventral lobe, slightly pointed. Colouration in alcohol: Head and body dark brown to bluish above, whitish below; dorsal surfaces of pelvic proximally black, distally lighter; anal dark, distal tips lighter; caudal grayish to blackish. Sexual Dimorphism: Only females have well-developed fleshy protuberances or pads in basal portion of pelvics, especially during reproductive season. Vomerine tooth patches and accessory tooth patches not observed directly, but possibly showing same variation described for A. canteri and A. jimenezi. Etymology: The specific name assimilis: Latin for similar, described as “closely allied” to Hexanematichthys hymenorrhinos (= Sciades herzbergii) and A. seemanni.

Common Name:

Mayan sea catfish

Synonyms:

Arius guatemalensis, Arius cærulescens, Galeichthys azureus,

Family:

Ariidae

Distribution:

North America: Pacific coast and coastal rivers of North and Central America, from Gulf of California, Mexico to Honduras. Type locality: Estuary at Mazatlán, Sinaloa, W. Mexico.

Size:

45.0cm. TL (18ins)

Temp:

26-29°c (79-85°f)

p.H.

7.0-8.5.

Reference:

Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors. 2024. FishBase. World Wide Web electronic publication. www.fishbase.org, ( 02/2024 )
Marceniuk, Alexandre P.; Menezes, Naércio A
. (2007). "Systematics of the family Ariidae (Ostariophysi, Siluriformes), with a redefinition of the genera" Zootaxa 1416: 1–126.
The ETYFish Project Fish Name Etymology Database © Christopher Scharpf.



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Family: Ariidae  Back to Ident-A-Cat  Click on Thumbnails

Click for full imageAriopsis guatemalensis
El Salvador
Click for full imageAriopsis guatemalensis
Dorsal view-San Blas, Nayarit,Mexico
Click for full imageAriopsis guatemalensis

 

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