SCOTCAT.COM

your internet guide to all things catfish

Neoarius pectoralis (Kailola, 2000)

Image contributors to this species:

ScotCat Sources:

Other Sources:

Relevant Information:

Habitat: Found in coastal waters, estuaries and rivers within tidal influence; among mangroves. Description: Head large, eye large, head shield granular with a long narrow median groove; Snout acutely pointed, lips fleshy and crenulated, lower jaw squarish; Inner margin of pectoral-fin spine with large flattened serrations; Caudal fin with slender pointed lobes. Dorsal spines (total): 1; Dorsal soft rays (total): 7; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 18 - 22; Vertebrae: 51. Palatal teeth in two oblique, oval patches; one on each side of palate, well separated. Snout acute; lips fleshy, crenulate; lower jaw truncate. Head shield granular; dorsomedian head groove lanceolate, narrow distally. Eye large, 17-28% HL. Large, flattened serrae along inner margin of pectoral spine; caudal fin lobes slender, acute. Rakers present along posterior face of all gill arches. Colouration: Distinct, blackish margin on dorsal, pectoral and inner caudal fins. Etymology: The genus name Neoarius: Neo means "new" in latin and Arius is Derived from the Greek word Apelos (pronounced Araios) which means "sanctified by the god of war", and refers to the bony structure extending from the skull covering to the powerful thorn of the first dorsal fin ray. The specific name 'pectoralis' is from Latin meaning 'shoulder', in reference to the strong serrations along the inner margin of the pectoral-fin spine. Remarks: A large fork-tailed catfish with venomous spines that may inflict a very painful wound.

Common Name:

Sawspine Catfish

Synonyms:

Arius pectoralis

Family:

Ariidae

Distribution:

Western Central Pacific: Irian Jaya and Australia. Probably also occurring in southern Papua New Guinea (Port Moresby to the Kempwelch River area). Type locality: Chapman River, Queensland, 14º56'S, 141º38'E, Australia.

Size:

39.0cm. (15½ins)

Temp:

p.H.

Reference:

Dianne J. Bray, Neoarius in Fishes of Australia, accessed 04 Sep 2020. Fishes of Australia.
Kailola, P.J., 2000. Six new species of fork-tailed catfishes (Pisces, Teleostei, Ariidae) from Australia and New Guinea. Beagle, Rec. Mus. Art Galler. North. Territ. 16:127-144.
Ferraris, C.J. Jr., 2007. Checklist of catfishes, recent and fossil (Osteichthyes: Siluriformes), and catalogue of siluriform primary types. Zootaxa 1418:1-628.
Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors. 2019. FishBase. World Wide Web electronic publication. www.fishbase.org, ( 12/2019 ).

Family: Ariidae Back to Ident-A-Cat Click on Thumbnails

Neoarius pectoralis
Holotype-Chapman River, Queensland

Neoarius pectoralis
Holotype-dorsal view, Chapman River, Queensland

Neoarius pectoralis
Holotype-ventral view, Chapman River, Queensland

If you would like to contribute to the monthly factsheets with an article, information or photos, please e-mail me. You will of course be credited for your work.

If you would like to donate any denomination of monies to the site just click the above link button. All proceeds will go to running the site and hopefully to keep it going for a few years yet.