Species: Sciades passany, Passany Sea Catfish

Sciades passany (Valenciennes in Cuvier & Valenciennes, 1840)

Passany Sea Catfish

Head rounded, only slightly flattened; snout short, not overhanging mouth, distinctly square when viewed from above; bony head shield very rough, granular, extends forward to between eyes; bony process between head shield and pre-dorsal plate rough, broad at base, tapering to rear, slightly keeled above; bony plate at front of base of dorsal fin small, saddle shaped; a large transverse skin fold between rear nostrils; three pairs of barbels (on both jaws and chin), top barbels with very thick bases; roof of mouth with two pairs of patches of conical teeth, front pair fused centrally and continuous with rear pair, the entire set in a narrow, irregular transverse band; gill opening wide, membranes not adhering to breast; gill rakers on 1st arch 19-21, no tiny rakers on rear of 1st 2 gill arches; pectoral soft rays 11-12; tail fin deeply forked; a complete lateral line, with branches to top and bottom base of tail fin, no scales.

Grey to brown to blackish above, whitish below.

Reaches 100 cm.

Estuaries and coastal waters.

Depth range: 1-20 m?

Gulf of Paria, Venezuela, to Brazil.