Species: Ariopsis assimilis, Maya Sea Catfish

gill rakers: 1st arch 16-18, 2nd arch 18-22, 31-36 combined
Ariopsis assimilis (Gunther, 1864)
Maya Sea Catfish
Head rounded, only slightly flattened above; snout rounded as viewed from above; bony head shield very rough, covered with thin skin, extends to opposite eyes at front; a short central narrow longitudinal groove on shield ends well behind eyes; a broad based bony process at end of shield narrows and shortens at rear, has a slight central keel, extends back to meet a shield-shaped bone plate at base of dorsal fin; 2 pairs of close-set nostrils; no fleshy furrow extends across snout and connects rear nostrils; mouth under snout; 3 pairs of barbels (on chin and both jaws); gill opening wide, membranes not adhering to breast; teeth on roof of mouth in 2 small, narrowly separated or touching oval to square patches in center and 2 large oval patches on sides, these teeth never molar-like; 3-5 tiny rakers on upper rear surfaces of first two gill arches; 1st gill arch with 16-18 rakers on side, 2nd arch with 18-20; mature females have fleshy protuberances on pelvic fins; tail fin deeply forked; a complete lateral line, with branches to top and bottom base of tail fin, no scales.
Yellowish brown above, shading to whitish below; top barbels grey above, white below; chin barbels yellow-white; pectorals white, with black at base that extends onto spine; top of base of pelvic fin intensely black; anal fin silver; tail fin grey, with dark central rays.
Reaches 35 cm.
Primarily in freshwater, but also turbid brackish water in estuaries and lagoons.
Depth range 1-20 m?
NW Caribbean.

High Resolution Map Download
- Salinity
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- Brackish
- Freshwater
- Non Marine
- Inshore/Offshore
-
- Inshore
- Inshore Only
- Water Column Position
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- Bottom
- Habitat
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- Sand & gravel
- Soft bottom (mud/sand/gravel/beach/estuary/mangrove/seagrass)
- Soft bottom only
- Estuary
- Freshwater
- Mud
- FishBase Habitat
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- Demersal
- Feeding Group
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- Carnivore
- Data
- Diet
-
- Data
- Bony fishes
- Mobile benthic crustacea (shrimps/crabs)
- Egg Type
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- Brooded
- Data
- No pelagic larva
- No pelagic phase
- Global Endemism
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- All species
- Greater Caribbean endemic
- West Atlantic Endemic
- Regional Endemism
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- Caribbean endemic
- Continent
- Continent only
- GC endemic
- All species
- Residency
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- Resident
- Climate Zone
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- Tropical (10-23N, Nicaragua / Cuba)
- IUCN Red List
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- Least concern
- Listed
- CITES
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- Not listed
- Length Max
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- 35
- Depth Range Min
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- 1
- Depth Range Max
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- 20