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]

Bressou sea catfish
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Siluriformes
Family: Ariidae
Genus: Aspistor
Species:
A. quadriscutis
Binomial name
Aspistor quadriscutis
(Valenciennes, 1840)
Synonyms[1]
  • Arius quadriscutis Valenciennes, 1840
  • Notarius quadriscutis (Valenciennes, 1840)

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]

References

edit
  1. ^ Synonyms of Aspistor quadriscutis at fishbase.org.
  2. ^ Common names of Aspistor quadriscutis at fishbase.org.
  3. ^ a b c d Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Aspistor quadriscutis". FishBase. April 2016 version.
  4. ^ Cuvier, G. and A. Valenciennes, 1840 (Nov.) [ref. 1008] Histoire naturelle des poissons. Tome quinzième. Suite du livre dix-septième. Siluroïdes. v. 15: i-xxxi + 1-540, Pls. 421-455.
  5. ^ Food items reported for Aspistor quadriscutis fishbase.org.
  6. ^ Organisms preying on Aspistor quadriscutis at fishbase.org.