Hardhead sea catfish (Ariopsis felis)

Scientific name: Ariopsis felis Linnaeus, 1766

Hardhead sea catfish (Ariopsis felis)

The Hardhead sea catfish (Ariopsis felis) is a brackish-water fish of the family Ariidae. Native range: Western Atlantic, Massachusetts and northern Gulf of Mexico to southern Florida in USA and Mexico.

Biology

Adults inhabit continental waters and enters estuaries. Found in turbid waters over muddy bottoms. Males incubate eggs in the mouth. Commonly captured from catwalks, bridges and piers, particularly in passes and inland waterways. Edible, but generally not consumed.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name
Ariopsis felis
Family
Ariidae (Sea catfishes)
Order
Siluriformes (Catfish)
Class
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length
70.0
Common length
25.0
Environment
Marine; brackish; reef-associated
Climate
Subtropical
Distribution
Western Atlantic: Massachusetts and northern Gulf of Mexico to southern Florida in USA and Mexico.
Conservation status (IUCN)
Not Evaluated
Threat to humans
Traumatogenic
Uses
Fisheries: minor commercial; gamefish: yes
Resilience
Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (Fec=55)

Sources

Taxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

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