Amphiarius is a genus of sea catfishes (order Siluriformes) of the family Ariidae. It includes two species, the Kukwari sea catfish, A. phrygiatus, and the softhead sea catfish, A. rugispinis.[1]
| Amphiarius | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Siluriformes |
| Family: | Ariidae |
| Subfamily: | Ariinae |
| Genus: | Amphiarius Marceniuk & Menezes, 2007 |
| Type species | |
| Arius rugispinis Valenciennes in Cuvier & Valenciennes, 1840
| |
Taxonomy
editA. phrygiatus and A. rugispinis were both originally described by Achille Valenciennes in 1840 as Arius species, where they have been traditionally placed. They have also been classified in the genus Notarius. Since then, it has been recognized that these two species form a natural, monophyletic grouping and were suggested to represent a new, undescribed genus. The genus Amphiarius was finally erected for these two species in 2007.[1]
Species
edit- Amphiarius phrygiatus (Valenciennes, 1840) (Kukwari sea catfish)
- Amphiarius rugispinis (Valenciennes, 1840) (Softhead sea catfish)
Distribution
editAmphiarius species are distributed in marine, brackish and fresh waters of North and eastern South America.
Description
editAmphiarius are distinguished from all other ariids by the presence of accessory tooth plates that are small to moderate, roughly round, and laterally located.[1]
Ecology
editLike other ariid catfishes, Amphiarius species are mouthbrooders.
Relationship to humans
editBoth species are caught and marketed for human consumption.
References
edit- ^ a b c Marceniuk, Alexandre P.; Menezes, Naércio A. (2007). "Systematics of the family Ariidae (Ostariophysi, Siluriformes), with a redefinition of the genera" (PDF). Zootaxa. 1416: 1–126. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.1416.1.1.
- Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Species in genus Amphiarius". FishBase. December 2011 version.