Scientific Name
Arius latiscutatus

Common Name
Rough-head sea catfish

Biology
Mainly marine but frequently found in brackish estuaries, sometimes enters freshwater (Ref. 3876). Common during winter (Ref. 2683). Feeds on fish, benthic invertebrates, zooplankton and detritus (Ref. 28587). Ornamental and sometimes considered aquaria fish (Ref. 27121), the fish is venomous and can be dangerous to humans (Ref. 12484).

Classification

Classified By

G?nther, 1864

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Catfish (Siluriformes)

Family

Sea catfishes (Ariidae)

Distribution

Region

Eastern Atlantic

Distribution

Eastern Atlantic: Dakar, Senegal to Angola; one record from Fernando Poo. Also reported from various river estuaries.

Range

Unknown

Environment

Climate

Tropical

Water Temperature From

Unknown °C

Water Temperature To

Unknown °C

Depth From - meters

Unknown m

Depth To - meters

70 m

Zone

demersal

Environment

Marine; brackish; demersal; depth range ? - 70 m (Ref. 6541), usually ? - 30 m (Ref. 6541)

Trophic Level

3.34 s.e. 0.50 Based on food items.

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

70.0 cm

Common Length

40.0 cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 0.5000 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Fisheries: commercial

Vulnerability

Moderate to high vulnerability (55 of 100)

Resilience

Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (K=0.15)

Threat To Humans

Venomous (Ref. 12484)

IUCN Red List Status

Not Evaluated