Ariopsis guatemalensis (Günther, 1864)

Description


This species is distinguished from its congeners by the following characters: mesethmoid median portion wide, medial notch of mesethmoid large and shallow mouth wide 13.0-15.2% SL; cephalic shield at frontal area wide, 10.0-11.5% SL; cephalic shield at lateral ethmoid area wide 14.3-15.3% SL; distance between anterior nostrils wide 7.1-8.6% SL; distance between posterior nostrils wide 7.2-8.7% SL; osseous medial groove absent; fleshy medial groove of neurocranium conspicuous or inconspicuous, but never surpassing posterior margin of eyes; lateral margin of sphenotic straight, as wide medially as anteriorly; pterotic lateral margin markedly convex, sometimes angled; pectoral spine long 18.2-20.5% SL; external posterior branch of lateral ethmoid columnar and thin; fenestra delimited by mesethmoid and lateral ethmoid conspicuous (Ref. 116660).

Taxonomic Hierarchy


Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Teleostei

Order: Siluriformes

Family: Ariidae

Genus: Ariopsis

Species: Ariopsis guatemalensis (Günther, 1864)

Climate Zone


  • Tropical
  • Location


  • Eastern Pacific: Mexico,(from the mouth of Colorado River, Sonora) to Costa Rica.
  • Biology


    Abundant in marine and brackish waters (Ref. 9271). Also enters freshwater (Ref. 36880).

    Habitat


    freshwater