Kukwari sea catfish (Amphiarius phrygiatus)

Scientific name: Amphiarius phrygiatus Valenciennes, 1840

Kukwari sea catfish (Amphiarius phrygiatus)

The Kukwari sea catfish (Amphiarius phrygiatus) is a brackish-water fish of the family Ariidae. Native range: Atlantic, draining rivers and estuaries from Guyana to the mouth of the Amazon River.

Biology

Occurs in brackish estuaries with very low salinities, nearly entering freshwater. Found on shallow muddy bottoms. The female lays her eggs in a gelatinous mass on a sandy depression. Mouth brooding males guard the eggs until hatching. Marketed fresh.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name
Amphiarius phrygiatus
Family
Ariidae (Sea catfishes)
Order
Siluriformes (Catfish)
Class
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length
30.0
Common length
20.0
Environment
Marine; brackish; demersal
Climate
Tropical
Distribution
Atlantic: draining rivers and estuaries from Guyana to the mouth of the Amazon River.
Conservation status (IUCN)
Not Evaluated
Threat to humans
Traumatogenic
Uses
Fisheries: minor commercial
Resilience
Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.)

Sources

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

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