Species: Ariopsis canteri, Cazon Sea Catfish

Ariopsis canteri Acero AA P, Betancur-R R & Marceniuk AP, 2017

Cazon Sea Catfish

Body robust; head rounded, only slightly flattened; snout overhangs mouth; shield on top of head very rough, extending to between center of eyes; top of head with a short longitudinal groove that does not reach forward to between eyes; bony process behind head shield broad at base, narrowing at rear, slightly keeled; bony plate before base of dorsal fin spine a large crescent with a blunt front edge; 2 pairs of close-set nostrils; no fleshy furrow extends across snout and connects rear nostrils; three pairs of barbels (on chin and both jaws), top pair short, not reaching pectoral fin; mouth broad, lips thick and fleshy; teeth on roof of mouth simple in a U-shaped group of 4 patches, smaller inner pair narrowly separated, outer pair larger, eliptical; gill opening wide, membranes not adhering to breast; a few tiny rakers on rear surfaces of first two gill arches; gill rakers on front of 1st arch 17-20, on 2nd arch 19-24, 36-44 combined (rarely 36 or 37) for both arches; 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.

Dark brown to bluish above, whitish below; pelvics pale, with black base.

Reaches 60 cm.

Found in lower parts of freshwater streams, and in brackish water.

Depth range: 0-15 m?

Colombia and NW Venezuela.

Note: Often misidentified as Ariopsis bonillai (see Acero & Betancourt, 2006).