Bressou sea catfish | |
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Actinopterygii |
Order: | Siluriformes |
Family: | Ariidae |
Genus: | Aspistor |
Species: | A. quadriscutis
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Binomial name | |
Aspistor quadriscutis (Valenciennes, 1840)
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Synonyms[1] | |
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The Bressou sea catfish (Aspistor quadriscutis), also called the marine catfish,[2] is a species of sea catfish in the family Ariidae.[3] It was described by Achille Valenciennes in 1840, originally under the genus Arius.[4] It inhabits tropical marine, brackish and freshwater on the Atlantic coast of South America, ranging from Guyana to Brazil. It reaches a maximum total length of 50 cm (20 in), but more commonly reaches a TL of 30 cm (12 in).[3]
The diet of the Bressou sea catfish consists of benthic invertebrates.[5] It is preyed on by the Gillbacker sea catfish (listed as Arius parkeri on FishBase) and the Crucifix sea catfish (listed as Hexanematichthys proops).[6] It is of minor commercial interest to fisheries; it is sold fresh in markets within its region, and exported frozen.[3]
The Bressou sea catfish spawns between the months of September–November. The eggs are incubated in the mouths of males.[3]