| Family: |
Ariidae (Sea catfishes), subfamily: Ariinae |
| Max. size: |
32 cm FL (male/unsexed) |
| Environment: |
demersal; brackish; marine |
| Distribution: |
Western Central Pacific: southern New Guinea and northern Australia. |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 1-1; Dorsal soft rays (total): 7-7; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 20-23; Vertebrae: 49-50. Palate without teeth (but autogenous tooth plates present); jaw teeth slender, in short, oblong band. Lips fleshy, thin; mouth small, lower jaw truncate. Barbels thin, short, maxillary barbel reaching only just beyond eye; base of chin barbels close together. Eye large, 14-24% HL, lateral. Dorsomedian head groove elongate, deep posteriorly. Gill rakers along posterior of all arches; gill opening slightly restricted; two large epithelial flaps on palate posteriorly and double folds on upper limb of first two gill arches. Longitudinal furrows anterodorsally on body. Fin spines thin, long, slender; adipose fin short-based, over posterior two-thirds of anal; ventral fin pad of sexually mature females scalloped and tapered. Dark grey above and iridescent purple; palate and branchial chamber often purplish brown to charcoal (Ref. 40908). |
| Biology: |
Mainly in the marine waters of the lower estuaries, along the coast and off river mouths (Ref. 40908). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
traumatogenic |
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