Ariopsis guatemalensis (Günther, 1864)
Blue sea catfish
Ariopsis guatemalensis
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


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