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Since it was described, Cathorops multiradiatus has been differentiated from congeners through the large number of anal-fin rays (25–27). In this study, C. multiradiatus is redescribed and a new sympatric species with similar number of anal-fin rays is described and intersexual differences of both species evaluated. Cathorops manglarensis differs f...
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... This genus is distributed only in the Americas and can be easily misidentified due to the overall similarity of external morphology and coloration, combined with a lack of knowledge of ontogenetic and intersexual differences among Cathorops species, and sometimes they can even be identified as other unrelated species of the Ariidae family (Marceniuk et al. 2009). As a result of this, there is no adequate information on the commercial catch of this specific species, and very few studies have been carried out (Marceniuk 2007). ...
... The Conguito Sea Catfish is a small species in comparison with other catfish species from the area. The largest specimen caught was 21.7 cm, while the Cominate Sea Catfish and the Chihuil Bagre panamensis, for example, reach lengths of more than 50 cm; furthermore, the Conguito Sea Catfish seems to exclusively inhabit estuarine systems with low dispersal capacity, as is the case for all other species from the genus Cathorops (Barletta et al. 2005;Fávaro et al. 2005;Betancur-R et al. 2007;Marceniuk 2007;Marceniuk et al. 2016). The results of our study might be a consequence of these characteristics, as the size and habitat preferences of the Conguito Sea Catfish indicate that it has a low capacity for movement between zones as well as a small response to the effect of the fishery. ...
Biological parameters relating to the reproductive biology of Conguito Sea Catfish Cathorops liropus were investigated in 1979–1984 and 2015–2018 from an estuarine system on the northwestern Pacific coast of Mexico. In the first period, the spawning season occurred during the dry–warm season (April–June), according with the percentage of mature females and the highest gonadosomatic index (GSI) values. Mean TL was 12.3 cm, two cohorts were found, length at maturity was 18.6 cm, and fecundity was 24.47 oocytes/organism. In the second period, the spawning season extended to the rainy–warm season (July–November), as reflected by the percentage of mature females and the GSI values. Mean TL was 11.6 cm, length at maturity decreased to 17.1 cm, and fecundity decreased to 20.67 oocytes/organism, indicating a reduction in the size‐based indicators and a change in the spawning period and reproductive effort as time passed. The number of fishing skiffs increased from 1,103 in 1980 to 2,434 in 2019, representing a 220% increase, and the landings increased from 400 to 3,432 metric tons in the same period. Temporal trends in surface water temperature, salinity, and the Oceanic Niño Index did not explain the observed changes between the study periods. These results suggest that the observed changes in the reproductive potential of Conguito Sea Catfish have been at least partially due to fishing.
... Remarks -Extant Cathorops is the most species-rich genus of Ariidae in the New World, currently represented by 21 species on both sides of the tropical Americas from the Gulf of Mexico to southeastern Brazil (Atlantic Ocean) and from Baja California to northern Peru (Pacific Ocean) that inhabit brackish water as well as freshwater . The accurate taxonomic review of extant Cathorops supports the monophyly of genera Marceniuk, 2007aMarceniuk, , 2007bMarceniuk and Betancur, 2008;Marceniuk et al., 2009, and the origination of modern Cathorops has been calculated at ca. 27 Ma (late Oligocene, Chattian) and that of the subgenera Precathorops has been calculated at ca. 21 Ma (early Miocene, Aquitanian) [sensu . The older known fossil species is a single skull of †Cathorops goeldii and an isolated otolith specimen that came from the late Oligocene/early Miocene Pirabas Formation, Brazil . ...
The examined Ariidae marine catfish from the Neogene of tropical America consisted of isolated skulls, otoliths and bone fragments, some of which were described independently as otolith-based species or skull-based species. We used three-dimensional digital rendering (microCT) of skull and otolith reconstructions to recognize anatomical patterns including skull-otolith morphology, spatial allocations of otoliths in the endocranium for taxonomic identifications. We recognized isolated Proto-Caribbean otoliths of Cathorops sp. from the late early Miocene to early Pliocene formations and isolated otoliths of †Aspistor verumquadriscutis, †Bagre urumacoensis and Notarius sp. from the late Miocene. We explored the endocrania of four fossil Ariidae skulls from the late Oligocene to late early Miocene Proto-Caribbean to determine their internal otolith-cranial morphology, and we identified and described the skulls of †Bagre protocaribbeanus and †Cantarius nolfi and erected the new species of †Bagre castilloensi n. sp. and †Bagre ornatus n. sp. based on the internal otolith-skull association. The first fossil record of Bagre marinus from the early Pliocene Cubagua Formation to the late Pliocene San Gregorio Formation completed the ariid geochronological sequence. We discuss the differential stages of fossil preservation of bioapatite skulls and aragonite otoliths according to the diagenetic processes as well as the paleoenvironmental conditions in the sedimentary basins. Detailed microCT, 3D reconstructions, X-rays, dry prepared skeletons and digital photos of otolith and skull are shown to elucidate the in-skull otoliths species descriptions.
... However, morphological features may have limited value for the identification of species when intraspecific, ontogenetic or sexual variation is overlooked or when the differences between species are small. The identification of ariid species is especially problematic due to the very similar external appearance of most forms, although qualitative and morphometric features of the skull provide important guidelines for species recognition (Marceniuk, 2005b(Marceniuk, , 2007Marceniuk & Betancur-R, 2008;Marceniuk, Betancur-R, & Acero, 2009, Marceniuk, Menezes, & Britto, 2012. ...
... The analysis of the morphological variation in the Notarius grandicassis species group was based on the morphometric, meristic, and osteological characters of the skull and pectoral girdle. Forty-seven measurements were taken from 51 specimens, following the diagnostic approach of Marceniuk (2007). Meristic counts were made of the anal fin rays and the rakers of the first and second gill arches. ...
The Thomas sea catfish is characterized by a highly variable parietosupraoccipital process, which has been recognized as intraspecific variation or phenotypic plasticity. On the basis of this variation, three nominal species have been described, with two of them currently considered to be junior synonyms. Here, the Notarius grandicassis species complex is reviewed, considering the geographic variation of its morphological traits. Notarius grandicassis from north-eastern South America, and Notarius parmocassis, from eastern and southern Brazil, are redescribed as distinct evolutionary units, even though they are not differentiated by partial sequences of the mitochondrial genes CytB and ATPase 8/6. This condition is interpreted as a consequence of the recent evolutionary history of these species, which are found in distinct geographic areas with different environmental conditions.
... With 21 valid species, Cathorops is the most species rich genus of the family Ariidae in the New World, and this number is likely to grow even further when areas with little representative material in zoological collections, such as the Gulfs of Mexico and California, have been sampled more adequately (Marceniuk, 2007b;Marceniuk & Betancur-R., 2008). The considerable diversity of this group is related to its lifestyle, with populations being found preferentially in brackish waters and also restricted to freshwater, as well as its low dispersal capacity (Betancur-R et al., 2010). ...
... The term 'rarely', when used in the diagnoses, refers to uncommon conditions observed in only one or two specimens. The comparative morphological data, used in the diagnosis, is based on material cited on previous studies (Marceniuk, 1997;Marceniuk, 2007b;Marceniuk & Betancur-R., 2008;Marceniuk, et al., 2009. A Principal Components Analysis (PCA), based on morphometric and meristic characters, was used to differentiate the Cathorops species found in Colombia, Ecuador and Peru. ...
... Besides the revalidation of Cathorops festae, two other important aspects of the taxonomy and biogeography of the genus Cathorops are defined here. The status of Arius equatorialis as a junior synonym of Cathorops multiradiatus, as suggested by Marceniuk (2007b), is confirmed (Fig. 4b,d, 6). In addition, the registration of the occurrence of C. manglarensis on the northern coast of Peru, represents the first record of the species outside Colombia (Marceniuk, 2007b). ...
Over the past decade, the Sea Catfish (Ariidae) genus Cathorops has been the focus of a major taxonomic review, which has resulted in the revalidation of five synonymized nominal species, and the recognition of seven new species. With 21 valid species, Cathorops is currently the most species-rich genus of Ariidae in the New World. The principal lacuna in the taxonomic knowledge of genus species is the uncertain status of Arius festae Boulenger, 1898, described from Naranjal, in the Guayas River basin of Ecuador. In the present study Cathorops festae is redescribed as a valid species based on morphological and molecular data.
... Most ariid species occur in tropical and temperate areas around the world in coastal waters, estuaries, and the lower portions of rivers, with some species found exclusively in either marine or freshwaters (Marceniuk and Menezes 2007;Marceniuk et al. in press). In past decade, systematic and taxonomic knowledge of modern Neotropical Ariidae has been advanced with the descriptions of new species and revisions of nominal species Acero 2005, 2006;Marceniuk 2005aMarceniuk , 2007aAcero and Betancur-R. 2006;Betancur and Willink 2007;Marceniuk and Betancur-R. ...
Ariidae catfish are described from the early Miocene Pirabas Formation in northeastern Brazil, Cantaure and Castillo formations in northwestern Venezuela, and Castilletes Formation in North Colombia. A skull from the Pirabas Formation is described as Cathorops
goeldii, n. sp. and an otolith is identified as Cathorops sp. The otoliths from Cantaure, Castillo and Castilletes formations are described as Cantarius nolfi n. sp. and Bagre
protocaribbeanus n. sp. These coeval lithostratigraphic units reflect the Proto-Caribbean conditions and the shallow water tropical palaeoenvironment during the Miocene, particularly associated with marine coastal lagoon and estuarine influence.
... Most ariid species occur in tropical and temperate areas around the world in coastal waters, estuaries, and the lower portions of rivers, with some species found exclusively in either marine or freshwaters (Marceniuk and Menezes 2007;Marceniuk et al. in press). In past decade, systematic and taxonomic knowledge of modern Neotropical Ariidae has been advanced with the descriptions of new species and revisions of nominal species Acero 2005, 2006;Marceniuk 2005aMarceniuk , 2007aAcero and Betancur-R. 2006;Betancur and Willink 2007;Marceniuk and Betancur-R. ...
The Late Miocene Urumaco Formation, Northwestern Venezuela, one of the most fossiliferous units in the Neogene of tropical America, represents a shallow, marginal marine to deltaic wetland and fluvial system. A new extinct species of sea catfishes is described from the Urumaco Formation. Aspistor verumquadriscutis n. sp. is placed in the genera Aspistor based on five synapomorphies shared with modern congeners: epioccipital dorsally exposed, parieto-supraoccipital posterior margin convex, nuchal plates forming a large butterfly-shaped or moon-shaped structure, anterior margin of nuchal plate slightly concave, and nuchal plate overlapping parieto-supraoccipital. The new fossil species is distinguished from its modern congeners by having a shorter parieto-supraoccipital process, and a larger and longer nuchal plate, nuchal plate length 0.9–1.0 in parieto-supraoccipital process length (vs. 1.1–1.7 in A. luniscutis), and nuchal-plate width at medial area 0.9–1.0 in parieto-supraoccipital process length (vs. 1.1–1.5 in A. luniscutis); nuchal plate granulose over its entire surface (vs. with half lateral surface smooth in A. quadriscutis), nuchal plate subquadrangular shaped, almost as long as wide (vs. nuchal plate subtrapezoidal or butterfly shaped, anterior portion always narrower than the posterior portion in A. quadriscutis), and lateral margin of the nuchal plate straight (vs. with a constriction at the medial portion in A. quadriscutis).
... et al. (2007) hypothesized relationships among 13 species of Cathorops, recognizing two subgenera, the monotypic Precathorops for Cathorops dasycephalus, and Cathorops for the remaining species (see also Marceniuk et al., 2009: fig. 1 and appendix I). While efforts toward documenting the alpha taxonomy of Cathorops have increased in the last decade, particularly for Mesoamerican and Eastern Pacific taxa (Marceniuk, 2007a;Marceniuk and Betancur-R., 2008;Marceniuk et al., 2009), species differentiation is difficult given their overall similarity in external morphology and marked sexual dimorphism (e.g., accessory tooth patches). As a result, the validity of several nominal species described from the Caribbean and Atlantic coasts of South America (for the sake of brevity hereafter eastern South America [ESA]) remains unclear. ...
... According to Günther, in A. nuchalis ''the teeth on the palate are coarsely granular, and form two subtriangular patches of moderate extent, which, some times, are subcontinuous with their anterior angles'', whereas in A. laticeps, ''the teeth on the palate are granular and form two small, separated patches anteriorly on the palate.'' As discussed by several recent authors, those differences in fact reflect sexual dimorphism in Cathorops (e.g., Kailola and Bussing, 1995;Acero et al., 2005;Marceniuk, 2007aMarceniuk, , 2007b. While sexual discrimination based on gonad examination of the types of the two species was not feasible, the size and shape of accessory tooth patches and teeth suggest that Arius nuchalis is a female and A. laticeps is a male (Fig. 4A). ...
The New World genus Cathorops in the family Ariidae (Sea Catfishes) includes species that inhabit estuarine and coastal waters as well as freshwaters, playing an important role in Neotropical coastal and estuarine fisheries. The relatively conserved external morphology coupled with the marked sexual dimorphism and ontogenetic variation makes it difficult to recognize and diagnose the species. One of the major problems concerns the nomenclatural and geographical limits of C. spixii, described from tropical Brazil and often treated as the only coastal marine species in the genus from the Western Atlantic. Examination of types of nominal species as well as comprehensive collections of non-types from Caribbean and Atlantic South America, lead us to conclude that spixii is restricted to Brazil and that variolosus are synonyms of nuchalis, spixii, and C. arenatus, respectively. We also describe a new species in the Cathorops mapale species group from Colombia and Venezuela.
... The number above every node indicates the Bootstrap support value.Vol. 20 No. 3 • 2010 (1997) made a taxonomic revision of several species of Cathorops of both coasts of the American continent, based on discriminate methods with morphometric data, and suggested that osteological synapomorphies confirm the monophyly of the genus.The studies ofBetancur et al. (2004),Marceniuk (2007), Acero & Betancur ...
The systematics of the marine catfish of the family Ariidae is controversial because at the present time the number of species and genera in the family, or their relationships, remain uncertain. Phylogenetic relationships among five representative species of marine catfish of the family Ariidae from both the Pacific and the Atlantic coasts of Mexico were assessed by the analysis of the variability in 21 alloenzymatic loci, and by the comparison of the electrophoretic patterns of whole muscle proteins. Interspecific genetic divergence levels obtained by both electrophoretic methods showed a clear separation among the genera Cathorops, Bagre and Ariopsis, as well as in the studied species of Cathorops and Ariopsis, with Bagre marinus showing a greater genetic similarity with the Ariopsis group. Finally, our results contribute to the definition of the presence of this species in the coasts of the Gulf of Mexico.
... The studies of Betancur et al. (2004), Marceniuk (2007), Acero & Betancur (2007), Marceniuk & Betancur (2008) and Betancur (2009a) coincided in the results obtained so far, and support and confirm the monophyly of the ariids. Nevertheless, this monophyly, based and validated through previous morphological studies, is not congruent with molecular phylogenies and has been challenged (Betancur, 2009b). ...
The systematics of the marine catfish of the family Ariidae is controversial because at the present time the number of species and genera in the family, or their relationships, remain uncertain. Phylogenetic relationships among five representative species of marine catfish of the family Ariidae from both the Pacific and the Atlantic coasts of Mexico were assessed by the analysis of the variability in 21 alloenzymatic loci, and by the comparison of the electrophoretic patterns of whole muscle proteins. Interspecific genetic divergence levels obtained by both electrophoretic methods showed a clear separation among the genera Cathorops, Bagre and Ariopsis, as well as in the studied species of Cathorops and Ariopsis, with Bagre marinus showing a greater genetic similarity with the Ariopsis group. Finally, our results contribute to the definition of the presence of this species in the coasts of the Gulf of Mexico.
... Molecular evidence also brings new perspectives at the alpha taxonomy level. While recent taxonomic check lists estimate that the number of valid ariid species range from 125 to 136 ([15,21]; plus five more recent additions424344), there are 53 species designated as inquirendae in the family (i.e., uncertain validity), the greatest number within the order Siluriformes [3,39] . The major difficulties in undertaking a comprehensive taxonomic study of the Ariidae are the overall similarity in external morphology , the widespread distribution of the group coupled with the high degree of species endemism, and the poor representation of species diversity in museums [see also [21]] . ...
Ariids or sea catfishes are one of the two otophysan fish families (out of about 67 families in four orders) that inhabit mainly marine and brackish waters (although some species occur strictly in fresh waters). The group includes over 150 species placed in approximately 29 genera and two subfamilies (Galeichthyinae and Ariinae). Despite their global distribution, ariids are largely restricted to the continental shelves due in part to their specialized reproductive behavior (i.e., oral incubation). Thus, among marine fishes, ariids offer an excellent opportunity for inferring historical biogeographic scenarios. Phylogenetic hypotheses available for ariids have focused on restricted geographic areas and comprehensive phylogenies are still missing. This study inferred phylogenetic hypotheses for 123 ariid species in 28 genera from different biogeographic provinces using both mitochondrial and nuclear sequences (up to approximately 4 kb).
While the topologies obtained support the monophyly of basal groups, up to ten genera validated in previous morphological studies were incongruent with the molecular topologies. New World ariines were recovered as paraphyletic and Old World ariines were grouped into a well-supported clade that was further divided into subclades mainly restricted to major Gondwanan landmasses. A general area cladogram derived from the area cladograms of ariines and three other fish groups was largely congruent with the geological area cladogram of Gondwana. Nonetheless, molecular clock estimations provided variable results on the timing of ariine diversification (approximately 105-41 mya).
This study provides the most comprehensive phylogeny of sea catfishes to date and highlights the need for re-assessment of their classification. While from a topological standpoint the evolutionary history of ariines is mostly congruent with vicariance associated with the sequence of events during Gondwanan fragmentation, ambiguous divergence time estimations hinders assessing the vicariant hypothesis on a temporal framework. Further examination of ariid fossils might provide the basis for more accurate inferences on the timing of ariine diversification.
