Amphiarius
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| Amphiarius | ||||||||||||||
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| Arius rugispinis Valenciennes in Cuvier & Valenciennes, 1840 |
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Amphiarius phrygiatus |
Amphiarius is a genus of catfishes (order Siluriformes) of the family Ariidae. It includes two species, the Kukwari sea catfish, A. phrygiatus, and the softhead sea catfish, A. rugispinis.[1][2][3]
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[edit] Taxonomy
A. phrygiatus and A. rugispinis were both originally described by Achille Valenciennes in 1840 as Arius species, where they have been traditionally placed. They have also been classified in the genus Notarius. Since then, it has been recognized that these two species form a natural, monophyletic grouping and were suggested to represent a new, undescribed genus. The genus Amphiarius was finally erected for these two species in 2007.[1]
[edit] Distribution
Amphiarius species are distributed in marine, brackish and fresh waters of North and eastern South America. A. phrygiatus occurs in brackish estuaries with very low salinities, nearly entering freshwater, and is found on shallow muddy bottoms, ranging through Venezuela, Guyana, Surinam, French Guiana, and Brazil.[1][2] A. rugispinis is coastal, found chiefly in turbid waters of estuaries and around river mouths; it originates from brackish and marine waters of Trinidad Island, Guyana, Surinam, French Guiana, and Brazil.[1][3]
[edit] Description
Amphiarius are distinguished from all other ariids by the presence of accessory tooth plates that are small to moderate, roughly round, and laterally located.[1] A. phrygiatus grows to about 30 centimetres (12 in) TL, while A. rugispinis grows to about 45 cm (18 in) TL.[1]
[edit] Ecology
Like other ariid catfishes, Amphiarius species are mouthbrooders.[2][3] Reproduction in A. rugispinis appears to be between September to November. The diameter of the eggs is 14–15 millimetres (9⁄16 in), numbering about 30–35 per female.[3] The female A. phrygiatus lays her eggs in a gelatinous mass on a sandy depression for the male to collect to mouthbrood.[2]
[edit] Relationship to humans
A. phrygiatus is marketed fresh.[2] A. rugispinis is marked fresh and salted, and is exported frozen.[3]
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d e f Marceniuk, Alexandre P.; Menezes, Naércio A. (2007). "Systematics of the family Ariidae (Ostariophysi, Siluriformes), with a redefinition of the genera" (PDF). Zootaxa 1416: 1–126.
- ^ a b c d e "Arius phrygiatus". FishBase. Ed. Ranier Froese and Daniel Pauly. Aug 2007 version. N.p.: FishBase, 2007.
- ^ a b c d e "Arius rugispinis". FishBase. Ed. Ranier Froese and Daniel Pauly. Aug 2007 version. N.p.: FishBase, 2007.
