Habitat: Found
in coastal waters, estuaries and rivers within tidal
influence; among mangroves. Description:
Head large, eye large, head shield granular with a
long narrow median groove; Snout acutely pointed,
lips fleshy and crenulated, lower jaw squarish; Inner
margin of pectoral-fin spine with large flattened
serrations; Caudal fin with slender pointed lobes.
Dorsal spines (total): 1; Dorsal soft rays (total):
7; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 18 - 22; Vertebrae:
51. Palatal teeth in two oblique, oval patches; one
on each side of palate, well separated. Snout acute;
lips fleshy, crenulate; lower jaw truncate. Head shield
granular; dorsomedian head groove lanceolate, narrow
distally. Eye large, 17-28% HL. Large, flattened serrae
along inner margin of pectoral spine; caudal fin lobes
slender, acute. Rakers present along posterior face
of all gill arches. Colouration:
Distinct, blackish margin on dorsal, pectoral and
inner caudal fins. Etymology: The
specific name 'pectoralis' is from Latin meaning 'shoulder',
in reference to the strong serrations along the inner
margin of the pectoral-fin spine. Remarks:
A large fork-tailed catfish with venomous spines that
may inflict a very painful wound.
Common
Name:
Sawspine
Catfish
Synonyms:
Arius pectoralis
Family:
Ariidae
Distribution:
Western
Central Pacific: Irian Jaya and Australia.
Probably also occurring in southern Papua New Guinea
(Port Moresby to the Kempwelch River area). Type
locality: Chapman River, Queensland, 14º56'S,
141º38'E, Australia.
Size:
39.0cm. (15½ins)
Temp:
-
p.H.
-
Reference:
Kailola, P.J.,
2000. Six new species of fork-tailed catfishes (Pisces,
Teleostei, Ariidae) from Australia and New Guinea.
Beagle, Rec. Mus. Art Galler. North. Territ. 16:127-144. Dianne J. Bray, Neoarius in Fishes
of Australia, accessed 04 Sep 2020. Fishes
of Australia. Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors.
2019. FishBase. World Wide Web electronic publication.
www.fishbase.org, ( 12/2019 ). Ferraris, C.J. Jr., 2007. Checklist
of catfishes, recent and fossil (Osteichthyes: Siluriformes),
and catalogue of siluriform primary types. Zootaxa
1418:1-628.
Neoarius
pectoralis Holotype-Chapman
River, Queensland
Neoarius
pectoralis Holotype-dorsal view,
Chapman River, Queensland
Neoarius
pectoralis Holotype-ventral
view, Chapman
River, Queensland
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