Species: Sciades parkeri, Gillbacker Sea Catfish, Gillbacker sea-catfish

Sciades parkeri (Trail, 1832)

Gillbacker sea-catfish

Head rounded, flattened; snout very short, barely overhanging mouth, a little rounded when viewed from above; eye oval, small; bony head shield exposed, very rough at rear, smooth at front, extends forward to between eyes, without a central groove on top; bony process between head shield and pre-dorsal plate  shorter than pre-dorsal plate behind it and broad, tapering, rounded above (not keeled); bony plate at front of base of dorsal fin large, saddle shaped, longer than wide, without a front notch; no large transverse skin fold between rear nostrils; mouth large, lips thin; three pairs of barbels (on both jaws and chin), top barbels with very thick bases, (reaching middle of anal fin in young); roof of mouth with two pairs of patches of conical teeth, front pair much smaller, touching and continuous with  rear pair, side edge of rear patch not indented or notched, the entire set of 4 patches forming a U; gill opening wide, membranes not adhering to breast; gill rakers on 1st arch 17 (15-17), on second arch 15 (15-17), no rakers on rear of 1st 2 gill arches; pectoral soft rays 11 (10-12); tail fin deeply forked; a complete lateral line, with branches to top and bottom base of tail fin, no scales.