Galeichthys

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Galeichthys
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Siluriformes
Family: Ariidae
Subfamily: Galeichthyinae
Acero P. & Betancur-R., 2007
Genus: Galeichthys
Valenciennes in Cuvier & Valenciennes, 1840
Type species
Galeichthys feliceps
Valenciennes, 1840
Binomial name

Galeichthys ater
Castelnau, 1861
Galeichthys feliceps
Valenciennes, 1840
Galeichthys peruvianus
Lütken, 1874

Galeichthys is a genus of catfishes (order Siluriformes) of the family Ariidae.[1] The only genus in the subfamily Galeichthyinae, this genus includes three species, G. ater, G. feliceps, and G. peruvianus, and an undescribed species from South Africa.[2]

Contents

[edit] Distribution

Galeichthys species are predominantly marine species distributed in Southern Africa and northwestern South America.[3] G. ater is known from the Cape of Good Hope of southern Africa.[1] G. feliceps is widely distributed in southern Africa, found in freshwater, estuarine, and coastal environments.[1] G. peruvianus is found on the Pacific coast of South America, from Ecuador to Peru.[1]

[edit] Description

These fish have three pairs of barbels: a pair of fleshy and cylindrical maxillary barbels and two pairs of mental barbels. The base of the adipose fin is as long as the base of the anal fin. G. peruvianus reaches about 35.0 centimetres (13.8 in) TL, G. ater about 45.0 cm (17.7 in) TL, and G. feliceps about 55.0 cm (21.7 in) TL.[3] G. ater is dark brown to blackish, slightly lighter ventrally with the whole undersurface covered with brown specks.[4] G. feliceps is brown to greyish or greenish brown dorsally and whitish on its sides and ventrally; the midline of the abdomen is whitish and never pigmented.[5]

[edit] Ecology

G. feliceps is generally found in large shoals on the muddy bottoms in turbid waters, usually on the coastline and estuaries, though it is also found in rivers.[5] G. peruvianus is found in coastal waters.[6] G. ater is carnivorous, feeding on benthic invertebrates, primarily annelids.[4] G. feliceps feeds on crayfish, small fish, and crabs.[5]

G. feliceps is considered a nuisance of shore and ski-boat anglers in southern Africa as little else is caught.[5] Its spines are venomous and wounds should be treated immediately.[5] G. feliceps is marketed smoked.[5] G. peruvianus is marketed fresh and also reduced to fish meal.[6]

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d Ferraris, Carl J., Jr. (2007). "Checklist of catfishes, recent and fossil (Osteichthyes: Siluriformes), and catalogue of siluriform primary types" (PDF). Zootaxa 1418: 1–628. 
  2. ^ Acero P., Arturo; Betancur-R., Ricardo (June 2007). "Monophyly, affinities, and subfamilial clades of sea catfishes (Siluriformes: Ariidae)". Ichthyol. Explor. Freshwaters 18 (2): 133–143. 
  3. ^ a b Marceniuk, Alexandre P.; Menezes, Naércio A. (2007). "Systematics of the family Ariidae (Ostariophysi, Siluriformes), with a redefinition of the genera" (PDF). Zootaxa 1416: 1–126. 
  4. ^ a b "Galeichthys ater". FishBase. Ed. Ranier Froese and Daniel Pauly. Aug 2007 version. N.p.: FishBase, 2007.
  5. ^ a b c d e f "Galeichthys feliceps". FishBase. Ed. Ranier Froese and Daniel Pauly. Aug 2007 version. N.p.: FishBase, 2007.
  6. ^ a b "Galeichthys peruvianus". FishBase. Ed. Ranier Froese and Daniel Pauly. Aug 2007 version. N.p.: FishBase, 2007.