Scientific Name
Sciades parkeri

Common Name
Gillbacker sea catfish

Biology
Mainly found in turbid waters over muddy bottoms in coastal areas, estuaries and lower parts of rivers. Sexually mature after around two years of age. Upon hatching, the alevins are relatively large, approximately 6.0-6.5 cm (Ref. 35381). Marketed fresh and salted (Ref. 5217). Fish exported to Canada, USA, England, and Holland (Rayman Bedessee, pers. comm.).

Classification

Classified By

Traill, 1832

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Catfish (Siluriformes)

Family

Sea catfishes (Ariidae)

Distribution

Region

Western Atlantic

Distribution

Western Atlantic: Coastal rivers from Guyana to northern Brazil.

Range

Unknown

Environment

Climate

Tropical

Water Temperature From

Unknown °C

Water Temperature To

Unknown °C

Depth From - meters

15 m

Depth To - meters

20 m

Zone

demersal

Environment

Marine; brackish; demersal; depth range 15 - 20 m (Ref. 86589)

Trophic Level

4.11 s.e. 0.72 Based on diet studies.

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

190 cm

Common Length

90.0 cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 0.5078 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Fisheries: minor commercial

Vulnerability

Moderate to high vulnerability (51 of 100)

Resilience

High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (K=0.46; tm=2; tmax=4)

Threat To Humans

Traumatogenic (Ref. 58010)

IUCN Red List Status

Near Threatened (NT)