| Family: |
Ariidae (Sea catfishes), subfamily: Ariinae |
| Max. size: |
90 cm TL (male/unsexed) |
| Environment: |
demersal; freshwater; brackish; marine |
| Distribution: |
Indo-West Pacific: Persian Gulf to the Indo-Malayan region, northern Australia, Queensland, and north to southern Japan. Has long been confused with Arius thalassinus (Rüppell 1837). |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 1-1; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 17-21; Vertebrae: 53-58. Dorsomedian head groove bordered posteriorly by slightly raised frontals and forming a "V". Gill rakers usually absent on hind aspect of first 2 gill arches. Caudal fin lobes slender and tapered. Adipose fin short-based and located posteriorly. |
| Biology: |
Inhabits coastal waters, from estuaries onto the continental shelf. Found mostly on mudflats; males incubate eggs in its mouth (Ref. 68964). Mainly opportunistic and carnivorous; feeding on sea urchins, crustaceans, fish, prawns, loose scales, and detritus (Ref. 38478). Has a sharp and venomous dorsal and pectoral spines that can inflict extremely painful injuries(Ref. 68964). An important food fish (Ref. 7050). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
traumatogenic |
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