Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; freshwater; brackish; benthopelagic. Tropical; 9°N - 13°S, 59°W - 34°W
South America: Atlantic coastal rivers from Guyana to northeastern Brazil.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 50.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 3265); common length : 30.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 3265); max. published weight: 33.30 g (Ref. 118626)
Dorsal spines (total): 1. Three pair of barbels on rostral region, two pairs on lower jaw, one pair on posterior end of maxilla; end of maxilla barbel reaching pectoral fin insertion; large saddle-shaped bony plate with rugosa surface in front of dorsal fin, anterior margin of this plate waved but no deep medial incision; body yellow or gray-yellow dorsally, white ventrally (Ref. 13608).
Body shape (shape guide): elongated.
Found in turbid waters over muddy bottoms in shallow coastal areas, also around estuaries (Ref. 3265), and coastal rivers (Ref. 39852). Food items include bottom-living invertebrates. Marketed fresh. Exported frozen (Ref. 5217). Reproduction period is probably between September and November. Egg diameter is 9-11 mm. Males practice mouth brooding of the eggs. (Ref. 35381).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Taylor, W.R. and N.A. Menezes, 1978. Ariidae. In W. Fischer (ed.) FAO species identification sheets for fishery purposes. West Atlantic (Fishing Area 31). volume 1. [pag. var.]. FAO, Rome. (Ref. 3265)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2025-2)
Threat to humans
Traumatogenic (Ref. 58010)
Human uses
Fisheries: minor commercial
Tools
Special reports
Download XML
Internet sources