Species: Cathorops aguadulce, Aguadulce Sea Catfish, Estuarine Sea Catfish

Cathorops aguadulce (Meek, 1904)

Estuarine Sea Catfish, Aguadulce Sea Catfish

Head long and depressed, 26% of SL; snout long, 9.3-11.6% of SL; shield on top of head rough, covered with thin skin; a deep, well defined groove along center-top of head; bony process between head shield and dorsal fin base long and narrow behind; distance from tip of snout to dorsal fin origin 39-40.7% of SL; plate at base of dorsal fin a short, wide crescent; eye large, 4.6-6.9% of SL; 2 pairs of close-set nostrils; no fleshy furrow extends across snout and connects rear nostrils; 3 pairs of barbells (on chin and both jaws), top barbell reaching past pectoral spine base; mouth small, lower jaws arched, lips thick; roof of mouth with 1 pair of well separated, elongate and narrow tooth patches with a few small molariform teeth, tooth patches considerably larger in females; jaw teeth in several rows, front teeth smaller than back, which range from conical to molar-like; gill opening restricted to sides by adhesion of gill membranes to breast; gill rakers 14-16 on first arch, 13-16 on second arch, present on rear surfaces of first two gill arches; gill rakers of first two arches with fleshy papillae between them; rear edges of pectoral spines with long, conspicuous serrations; anal fin 21 rays; tail fin deeply forked; a complete lateral line, with branches to top and bottom base of tail fin, no scales.

Preserved fish brownish, paler below; adipose 2nd dorsal fin dark, other fins like body

Reaches 29 cm.

Primarily freshwater but also in marine conditions.

Depth range: 1-10 m?

The SW Gulf of Mexico.