Scientific Name
Bagre panamensis

Common Name
Chilhuil sea catfish

Biology
Found inshore, usually on muddy bottoms. Enters estuaries (Ref. 11035). Spine in front of the dorsal and pectoral fins is venomous and can cause a painful wound. Marketed fresh (Ref. 9271).

Classification

Classified By

Gill, 1863

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Catfish (Siluriformes)

Family

Sea catfishes (Ariidae)

Distribution

Region

Eastern Pacific

Distribution

Eastern Pacific: off Santa Ana River in southern California, USA to Peru. Rare north of southern Baja California, Mexico.

Range

Unknown

Environment

Climate

Subtropical

Water Temperature From

Unknown °C

Water Temperature To

Unknown °C

Depth From - meters

Unknown m

Depth To - meters

Unknown m

Zone

demersal

Environment

Marine; brackish; demersal

Trophic Level

3.9 s.e. 0.62 Based on size and trophs of closest relatives

Occurs in Marine / Salt water

True

Occurs in Brackish water

True

Occurs in Fresh Water

False

Occurs on Reefs

False

Is kept in Aquariums

False

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

38.0 cm

Common Length

Unknown cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 0.5625 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Fisheries: commercial

Vulnerability

Moderate vulnerability (37 of 100)

Resilience

Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.)

Threat To Humans

Venomous (Ref. 2850)

IUCN Red List Status

Least Concern (LC)