Classification / Names
Common names | Synonyms | Catalog of Fishes(genus, species) | ITIS | CoL | WoRMS | Cloffa
Teleostei (teleosts) >
Siluriformes (Catfishes) >
Ariidae (Sea catfishes) > Ariinae
Etymology: Potamarius: Greek, potamos = river (Ref. 45335); usumacintae: The specific name refers to the Río Usumacinta basin, where this species occurs.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; demersal. Tropical
Central America: endemic to the Río Usumacinta basin in Guatemala and Mexico.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 59.5 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 75770)
Short description
Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics
Dorsal spines (total): 1; Dorsal soft rays (total): 7; Anal soft rays: 19 - 23. Distinguished from other freshwater ariids occurring in Mesoamerica by the following combination of characters: presence of accessory tooth patches on palate; premaxillary tooth band length 2.4-2.9 in its width; ; snout length 1.4-1.8 in postorbital length; lateral gill rakers on first gill arch 17-20 (mode 19); mesial gill rakers on first two gill arches well developed; accessory palatal patches with numerous pointed-conical teeth; premaxillary maxillary barbel not extending behind gill membrane; and dorsomedian fleshy groove on head absent (Ref. 75770).
Occurs only in freshwater, preferring the main channel of medium to large rivers (Ref. 75770).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Betancur-R., R. and P.W. Willink, 2007. A new freshwater ariid (Otophysi: Siluriformes) from the Río Usumacinta Basin. Copeia 2007(4):818-828. (Ref. 75770)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2025-2)
Threat to humans
Traumatogenic (Ref. 58010)
Human uses
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