Ariopsis assimilis (Günther, 1864)
Mayan sea catfish
Ariopsis assimilis
photo by Granados-Dieseldorff, P. & M. Christensen

Family:  Ariidae (Sea catfishes), subfamily: Ariinae
Max. size:  35 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  demersal; freshwater; brackish
Distribution:  Central America: Mexico, Belize, Honduras, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama.
Diagnosis:  This species is distinguished from its congeners by the following characters: gill rakers on the first and second gill arches 31-36 rarely 37, on first gill arch only 14-18 rakers; 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 anteriorly as medially; pterotic lateral margin markedly convex, sometimes angled; mouth 10.5-13.2% SL; cephalic shield at frontals area 8.8-10.1% SL; mesethmoid median portion narrow; mesethmoid medial notch narrow and deep; longer pectoral-fin spine 18.2-22.6% SL; external posterior branch of lateral ethmoid columnar and thin; fenestra delimited by mesethmoid and lateral ethmoid conspicuous (Ref. 116660).
Biology:  Consumed mostly fresh.
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 19 August 2018 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  traumatogenic


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