>
Siluriformes (Catfishes) >
Ariidae (Sea catfishes) > Ariinae
Etymology: Carlarius: First part of the generic name honors Dr. Carl Ferraris, Research Associate at the California Academy of Sciences for his contribution to the knowledge of Siluriformes fishes and continuous support and encouragement throughout the development of this work; the second part is from the frequently used generic name Arius.
Eponymy: Gigas was a giant in Greek mythology, the child of Uranus and Gaea. The name is applied to taxa that are giants of their kind. (Ref. 128868), visit book page.
More on author: Boulenger.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Écologie
; eau douce; saumâtre benthopélagique. Tropical
Africa: Ouémé and Volta rivers, and greater part of the Niger River basin, including the Benue River downstream Gauthiot Falls (Ref. 57224)
Taille / Poids / Âge
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 165 cm TL mâle / non sexé; (Ref. 6541); poids max. publié: 50.0 kg (Ref. 3799)
Épines dorsales (Total) : 2; Rayons mous dorsaux (Total) : 7; Rayons mous anaux: 11 - 13. Diagnosis: body elongated and rounded; head broad and only slightly flattened above, snout rounded (slightly pointed in small specimens); mouth inferior; maxillary barbels just reaching to pectoral fin bases, mandibular ones being shorter; osseous head shield, fairly visible through the skin, coarsely rugose with a very slight median keel; occipital process moderately broad at base and truncated posteriorly (Ref. 57224). Base of supra-occipital process moderately wide (Ref. 2683). Predorsal plate rugose, crescent-shaped; premaxillary teeth villiform forming 2 plates meeting at midline; palatine teeth in 2 large subtriangular patches which are only slightly separated at midline; no gill-rakers on posterior face of the 1st and 2nd arches; total number of anterior gill-rakers on first arch 18 to 21, on second arch 18 to 20; dorsal and pectoral fins with a strong osseous, erectile spine with anterior rim granulose and posterior rim serrated; long dorsal fin spine preceded by a very short one; adipose fin well developed; caudal fin forked, upper lobe slightly elongated (Ref. 57224).
Coloration: bluish grey on the upper part, lightening progressively towards belly which is white; distal rim of fins blackish (Ref. 57224).
Found in large rivers and their estuaries (Ref. 2683). Probably exceeds 165 cm (Ref. 3876). Males practise buccal incubation (ref. 57224).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturité | Reproduction | Frai | Œufs | Fécondité | Larves
Schneider, W., 1990. FAO species identification sheets for fishery purposes. Field guide to the commercial marine resources of the Gulf of Guinea. Prepared and published with the support of the FAO Regional Office for Africa. Rome: FAO. 268 p. (Ref. 2683)
Statut dans la liste rouge de l'IUCN (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-2)
Menace pour l'homme
Traumatogenic (Ref. 58010)
Utilisations par l'homme
Pêcheries: commercial
Outils
Articles particuliers
Télécharger en XML
Sources Internet
Estimates based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.5000 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.00490 (0.00250 - 0.00959), b=3.13 (2.96 - 3.30), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this (Sub)family-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Niveau trophique (Ref.
69278): 3.9 ±0.6 se; based on size and trophs of closest relatives
Résilience (Ref.
120179): Très faible, temps minimum de doublement de population supérieur à 14 ans (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Very high vulnerability (90 of 100).
Nutrients (Ref.
124155): Calcium = 57.7 [12.9, 215.0] mg/100g; Iron = 0.575 [0.325, 1.007] mg/100g; Protein = 16.6 [14.9, 18.5] %; Omega3 = 0.136 [0.070, 0.271] g/100g; Selenium = 90 [41, 200] μg/100g; VitaminA = 18 [6, 51] μg/100g; Zinc = 2.06 [0.48, 6.89] mg/100g (wet weight);
