Amphiarius
{{Short description|Genus of fishes}}
{{Italic title}}
{{Automatic taxobox
| name = Amphiarius
| taxon = Amphiarius
| authority = Marceniuk & Menezes, 2007
| type_species = Arius rugispinis
| type_species_authority = Valenciennes in Cuvier & Valenciennes, 1840
| subdivision_ranks = Species
| subdivision =
}}
Amphiarius is a genus of sea catfishes (order Siluriformes) of the family Ariidae. It includes two species, the Kukwari sea catfish, A. phrygiatus, and the softhead sea catfish, A. rugispinis.{{cite journal|url=http://www.mapress.com/zootaxa/2007f/zt01416p126.pdf|title=Systematics of the family Ariidae (Ostariophysi, Siluriformes), with a redefinition of the genera|first=Alexandre P.|last=Marceniuk|author2=Menezes, Naércio A.|journal=Zootaxa|volume=1416|pages=1–126|year=2007|doi=10.11646/zootaxa.1416.1.1 }}
Taxonomy
A. phrygiatus and A. rugispinis were both originally described by Achille Valenciennes in 1840 as Arius species, where they have been traditionally placed. They have also been classified in the genus Notarius. Since then, it has been recognized that these two species form a natural, monophyletic grouping and were suggested to represent a new, undescribed genus. The genus Amphiarius was finally erected for these two species in 2007.
Species
- Amphiarius phrygiatus (Valenciennes, 1840) (Kukwari sea catfish)
- Amphiarius rugispinis (Valenciennes, 1840) (Softhead sea catfish)
Distribution
Amphiarius species are distributed in marine, brackish and fresh waters of North and eastern South America.
Description
Ecology
Like other ariid catfishes, Amphiarius species are mouthbrooders.
Relationship to humans
Both species are caught and marketed for human consumption.
References
- {{FishBase genus | genus = Amphiarius| month = December | year = 2011}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q2748438}}
Category:Marine fish of Brazil
Category:Fish of French Guiana
Category:Fish of Trinidad and Tobago
Category:Taxa named by Alexandre Pires Marceniuk