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ARIID
1983

FAO SPECIES IDENTIFICATION SHEETS

FISHING AREA 51
(W. Indian Ocean)

ARIIDAE

(often Tachysuridae and sometimes Bagreidae in the literature)

Sea catfishes

Medium to very large fishes. Snout and head rounded to depressed, mouth terminal to inferior, gill
membranes fused with each other and attached to isthmus, with a narrow free posterior flap; teeth in jaws always
fine and villiform, in curved bands; teeth on palate villiform or conical granular or molarlike arranged in 1 to 3
patches of varying shapes and sizes on each side of palate (absent in Ancharius species); 1 to 3 pairs of barbels,
usually a pair of maxillary (but absent in Batrachocephalus), usually 2 pairs of mental barbels (rarely a single pair
in Batrachocephalus and none in Osteogeneiosus); head covered with a bony shield comprising frontal,
supraoccipital, sphenotic and other bones of otic region, often ruqose, granulated, part of which is usually visible
beneath the skin (obscured by thick skin and muscle in some species); posterior portion of bony shield
(supraoccipital process) extending backward, and medially to meet the predorsal plate (basal bone of first dorsal
fin); 2 pairs of adjacent nostrils on each side of snout (spaced in Ancharius), the posterior pair partly covered by a
flap of skin (no barbels); gillrakers present on anterior faces of all arches, total number 7 to 42 on first arch, rakers
either present or completely absent on posterior faces of first and second arches. First dorsal fin short with a
long, often rough spine, more or less serrated on inner edqe, sometimes also on outer edqe, preceded by a very
short spine or buckler and followed by 7 rays; a short adipose dorsal fin present, situated above anal fin; pectoral
fins low on sides, with a strong, mostly serrated spine and 7 to 13 rays; pelvic fins with 6 rays; anal fin with 14
to 30 rays; caudal fin forked with 13 branched rays (7 in upper and 6 in lower lobe). Scales absent; lateral line
complete. Swimbladder with a posterior chamber in some species.

median
longitudinal
groove

supraoccipital
process

dorsal fin
spine

predorsal
plate

granulated lateral
bony shield line adipose
nostrils fin
close
together

mental or maxillary anal fin

mandibulary barbels barbels
pectoral fin spine
 -2-

FAO Sheets ARIIDAE Fishing Area 51

premaxillary
band

examples of teeth on palate (roof of mouth)

Sexual changes: sea catfishes are oral incubators (at least in all recorded cases), the male carrying the
developing eggs and fingerlings in the oral cavity for some time. In mature males, the throat is often expanded.
In mature females, the pelvic fins are longer than in males of similar size, and as spawning approaches, the rays of
these fins become thickened, the innermost developing large pads or "hooks".

Growth changes: the relative size of various parts of the body such as eye, barbels and fin filaments, change
with growth. Patches of palatine teeth also increase in size, may become completely fused with each other, e.g.
Arius thalassinus, and in some granular-toothed ariids, the teeth may be partially lost (e.g., Arius polystaphylodon,
A. maculatus and A. tenuispinis).
Colour: usually greyish to metallic blue, dark grey or brown on back and sides, sometimes with black patches
paler to white below; a silvery lateral stripe present in some species.
Sea catfishes occur mostly in marine, brackish and fresh waters of warm temperate and tropical regions. The
marine representatives known from Fishing Area 51 include approximately 23 species, some of which attain large
sizes (over 1 m) and are mostly confined to muddy coastal waters down to 50 m depth, although a few species (e.g.,
A. dussumieri, A. tenuispinis, A. thalassinus and other Arius species) are caught at greater depths. Species found
in fresh water 7about 10 inhabit rocky to clay-bedded streams, rarely stagnant waters. Several species of high
economic value are included in this family. The sea catfish catches reported in 1981 from Fishing Area 51 totalled
52,744 tons (33,371 of which where taken by India and 10,269 by Pakistan). The flesh is usually of good quality, but
the sharp dorsal and pectoral fin spines can inflict painful wounds. Fishermen often break the spines before
stacking them for the market.

SIMILAR FAMILIES OCCURRING IN THE AREA*: nasal barbel

on posterior nostril
All other catfish families either have widely sepa-
rated nostrils, a barbel on posterior nostril, teeth on
palate villiform and in a single transverse band, or dorsal
and anal fins continuous with caudal fin. Additional dis-
tinguishing characters are the following:
Bagridae (only one marine representative Mystus
qulio, occasionally taken from near shore waters and one 25 to 28
species, Horabagrus Brachysoma, found in brackish rays
waters): 4 pairs of barbels (usually 3 in Ariidae); anal fin Bagridae (H. brachysoma)
long with 25 to 28 rays in H. brachysoma (14 tto 30 in
Ariidae)
premaxillary
band

* Brachish water and marine rapresentative only

example of teeth on palate
Bagridae
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FAO Sheets ARIDAE Fishing Area 51

widely eparated
Pangasiidae (Pangasius pangasius, often found in
brackish waters and within tidal influence): only one pair nostrils
of maxillary and one pair of mandibular barbels (usually a
total of 3 pairs of barbels in Ariidae, except in Batracho-
cephalus, which has only one and Osteoqeneiosus where
they are absent); anal fin long, with 29 to 39 rays. anal fin
2 pairs long
Clariidae (mostly freshwater species): 4 pairs of of barbels
barbels; dorsal fin very long, without spines; anal fin Pargasiidae (Pangasius)
long; both dorsal and anal fin free from caudal; adipose
fin absent.

Heteropneustidae (mostly freshwater species): 4 pairs

of barbets; no spine in dorsal fin; adipose fin absent;
anal fin very long.

Schilbeidae (mostly freshwater, but a few species

may enter brackish waters): anal fin long.
Clariidae (Clarias)
Plotosidae: pelvic fin with 12 to 14 rays (6 in 4 pairs
Ariidae); a dendric preanal apparatus present. of barbels

dorsal fin spineless

anal fin
very long
4 pairs
of barbels Heteropneustidae
Schilbeidae

Plotosidae
dendritic
12 to 14
apparatus
rays
KEY TO GENERA AND SPECIES OCCURRING IN THE AREA:

1a. Only 1 or 2 pairs of barbels

2a. One pair of stiff and semiosseous

maxillary barbels (mental barbels
absent) (Fig.1) ....................... Osteoqeneiosus militaris

2b. Only 1 or 2 pairs of soft, minute,

rudimentary mental barbels (maxil-
lary barbels absent) (Fig.2) ...... Batrachocephalus mino
Osteogeniosus militaris Fig.1

1b. Three pairs of slender barbets (1 pair maxillary barbels

maxillary and 2 pairs mandibular) absent

*To be considered as provisional since the mental barbels

taxonomy of this family is still in need of Batrachocephalus mino Fig.2
rudimentary
revision
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FAO Sheets ARIIDAE Fishing Area 51

3a. Palate (roof of mouth) toothless; nostrils

slightly separated

4a. Maxillary barbel a little longer than head,

reaching beyond pectoral fin base; pecto-
ral fin reaching to pelvic fin base (Fig.3). Ancharius

4b. Maxillary barbel half of head length. not

reaching to pectoral fin base; pectoral fin
not reaching to pelvic fin (Fig.4) ......Ancharius brevibarbis

Ancharius fuscus Fig.3

3b. Palate (roof of mouth) with teeth; nostrils
close together

5a. Teeth on palate as a single patch on

each side

5b. (see page 8)

6a. Teeth on palate as a triangular or

Ancharius brevibarbis Fig.4
oval small patch (Figs 6,7,9 to 12)

6b. (see page 6)

maxillary
barbel short
7a. Maxillary barbels short, not
extending beyond orbit; snout
long, spatulate (Fig.5) ..….. Arius subrostratus

7b. Maxillary barbels long,

extending beyond orbit; snout
short, obtusely rounded (Fig.
8)
dorsal view of head
Arius subrostratus Fig.5
8a. Teeth on palate in an
oval patch, with sparsely
packed conical teeth
premaxillary
(Fig.6) …...……....... Arius sumatranus
patch

8b. Teeth on palate in a tri-

anqular or oval patch,
with densely packed teeth on
teeth (Figs 7,9 to 12) palate

Arius sumatranus Fig.6

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FAO Sheets ARIIDAE Fishing Area 51

9a. Outer edge of palate teeth patch concave, inner

edge convex (Fig.7) ..........…......…….............…. Arius venosus

9b. Outer edge of palate teeth convex, inner edge

concave (Figs 9 to 12)
concave

10a. Head shield strongly granulated behind orbit, convex

with a conical protuberance above eye, tape-
ring as a wide V toward occiput (Fig. 8) teeth on roof of mouth

11a. Outer dorsal and pectoral fin rays pro- maxillary

longed; teeth on palate rounded or globu- barbel
lar, inner edge with 2 concavities; anal long
fin rays 16 (Fig.9) .......………... Arius madagascariensis
(Madagascar and East Africa)

11b. Outer dorsal fin ray alone prolonged;

teeth on palate villiform, roughly tri-
angular, with a single concavity; anal fin
rays 19 or 20 (Fig.10)................…………. Arius caelatus
(India and Pakistan)

10b. Head shield not very granulated; preorbital

conical protuberance not well pronounced
(Figs 11,12)

Arius madagascariensis Fig.8

16 rays
teeth
globular
Arius madagascariensis Fig.9
teeth on roof of mouth

teeth 19 or 20
villiform rays
teeth on roof of mouth
Arius caelatus Fig.10
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FAO Sheets ARIIDAE Fishing Area 51

duck-bill
shaped
12a. Barbels fleshy, head depressed, snout
barbels
duck-bill shaped; teeth on palate as an
fleshy
oval or pyriform patch on each side
(Fig.11) ...........................…………............ Arius platystomus
(India and Sri Lanka)

12b. Barbels not fleshy, head not very

depressed, snout obtusely rounded; teeth
on palate in a triangular patch on each
side, diverging behind, with a conical
projection at the anterior end (Fig.12)………... Arius africanus
(East Africa, Tanzania)

6b. Teeth on palate as an elliptical, large patch teeth on roof

(Fig.16) of mouth Arius platystomus Fig.11

13a. Tooth patch placed far back in

buccal cavity; dorsal fin spine slen- obtusely
der, equal to or slightly longer than rounded
pectoral fin spine (Fig.13); median
longitudinal groove long, narrow,
running onto supraoccipital process
(Fig.15a) ....................................... Arius tenuispinis

13b. Tooth patch placed well forward in

buccal cavity; dorsal fin spine teeth on roof
strong, equal to or shorter than of mouth
pectoral fin spine (Fig.14); median
longitudinal groove shorter, not
running onto supraoccipital process
(Fig.15b)

long
Arius africanus Fig.12

slender

short

Arius tenuipinnis Fig.13

strong

a) Arius tenuispinis b) Arius maculatus

top of head Fig.15

Arius maculatus Fig.14

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FAO Sheets ARIIDAE Fishing Area 51

14a. Tooth patches on palate fully elliptical,

well formed, with densely packed teeth
(Fig.16a) .......................….............. Arius maculatus

14b. Tooth patches on palate irregularly

ovate, not fully formed, with loosely
packed teeth, inner margins of patches
being not straight (Fig. 16b,c)

15a. Anal fin with 14 to 16 rays (12 to

14 branched) (Fig.17) ...................... Arius Lella
a) Arius maculatus
15b. Anal fin with 20 to 22 rays (14 to
16 branched) (Fig.18) ...................... Arius arius

5b. Teeth on palate in 2 or 3 patches on each side

16a. Teeth on palate in 3 patches

on each side, triangular, villi-
form, the vomerine patch in
middle and the ectopterygoid
patch either from the sides
of the vomerine patch or
below them, not fused in
juveniles, but joined in adults
(Fig.19) .......................... Arius thalassinus
b) Arius jella c) Arius arius

16b. Teeth on palate in 2 patches tooth patches on roof of mouth Fig. 16

on each side (Fig.20a,b,c)

premaxillary tooth patch

14 to 16
rays

Arius jella Fig.17

3 patches
juvenile adult
teeth on roof of mouth
Arius thalassinus Fig.19

20 to 22
rays
Arius arius Fig.18
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FAO Sheets ARIIDAE Fishing Area 51

17a. Patches of teeth on palate placed 1 premaxillary

below the other, the posterior patch tooth patch
very large, 3 or 4 times larger than
the anterior patch (Fig.20a, b,c)

18a. A preorbital oval protuberance

of the lateral eth moid present 2
(Fig.21a) ..................................... Arius dussumieri
patches

18b. No such preorbital protube-

rance of the lateral ethmoid
present (Fig.21b)

19a. Posterior patch of teeth

on palate oval, with large a) Arius dussumieri b) Arius crossochelius
globular teeth of various
s i z e , c o n v e rg i n g p o s te -
riorly (Fig.20b).................. Arius crossocheilus c) Arius polystaphylodon
(India and Pakistan)

19b. Posterior patch long, nar-

row, carrot shaped and
with sparsely packed con-
ical teeth (Fig.20c) .…...... Arius polystaphylodon
(East Africa)

c) Arius polystaphylodon
teeth on roof of mouth Fig.20
preorbital
protuberance no preorbital
protuberance

a) Arius dussumieri b) Arius crossocheilus

Fig.21
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FAO Sheets ARIIDAE Fishing Area 51

17b. Patches of teeth on palate
premaxillary
placed side by side and not
tooth patch
one below the other (Fig.
22a,b)
20a. Basal bone of dorsal fin
(predorsal plate) very
large and butterfly-
shaped (Fig.23a) ........…. Arius sagor a) Arius sagor
b) Arius sona
20b. Basal bone of dorsal fin teeth on roof of mouth
(predorsal plate) smal- Fig.22
ler, not butterfly
shaped (Fig.23b) ............ Arius sona

predorsal
plate

a) A. sagor b) A. sona Fig.23

LIST OF SPECIES OCCURRING IN THE AREA:
Code numbers are given for those species for which Identification Sheets are included
* Ancharius brevibarbis Boulanger, 1910
* Ancharius fuscus Steindachner, 1880
Arius africanus Günther & Playfair, 1866 ARIID Ariu 19
Arius arius Hamilton, 1822 ARIID Ariu 20
*Arius baroni (Newton, )
Arius caelatus Valenciennes, 1840 ARIID Ariu 1 (=ARIID Ari 1, Fishing Areas 57/71)
**Arius capillonis (Steindachner, )
Arius crossocheilus Bleeaker, 1846 ARIID Ariu 21
Arius dussumieri Valenciennes, 1840 ARIID Ariu 22
*Arius granulatus (Peters, )
Arius jella Day, 1877 ARIID Ariu 23
Arius maculatus (Thunberg, 1792) ARIID Ariu 2 (=ARIID Ari 2, Fishing Areas 57 / 41)
Arius madagascariensis Vaillant, 1B94 ARIID Ariu 24
Arius platystomus Day 1877 ARIID Ariu 25
Arius polystaphylodon Bleeker, 1846 ARIID Ariu 26
Arius sagor (Hamilton, 1822) ARIID Ariu 3 (=ARIID Ari 3, Fishing Areas 57/71)
Arius sona (Hamilton, 1822) ARIID Ariu 27
Arius subrostratus Valenciennes, 1840 ARIID Ariu 28
Arius sumatranus Bennett, 1830 ARIID Ariu 29
Arius tenuispinis Day, 1877 ARIID Ariu 30
Arius thalassinus (Rüppell, 1837) ARIID A iu 4 (=ARIID Ari 4, Fishing Areas 57/71)
Arius venosus (Valenciennes, 1840) ARIID Ariu 5 (=ARIID Ari 5, Fishing Areas 57/71)
Batrachocephalus mino (Hamilton, I B22) ARIID Bat 1

Osteogeneiosus militaris (Linnaeus, 1758} ARIID Ost 1

Prepared by K.C. Jayaram, Zoological Survey of India Indian Museum, Calcutta, India; draft material revised by
P. Kailola, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia.

* Restricted to freswater of Madagascar

** Specific status of nominal marine species uncertain
 ARIID Ariu 1

1983

(=ARIID Ari 1)
(Fishing Area 57/71)

FAO SPECIES IDENTIFICATION SHEETS

FAMILY: ARIIDAE FISHING AREA 51
(W. Indian Ocean)

Arius caelatus Valenciennes, 1840*

OTHER SCIENTIFIC NAMES STILL IN USE : Tachysurus caelatus (Valenciennes, 1840)

VERNACULAR NAMES:
FAO : En - Engraved catfish
Fr - Mâchoiron masque
Sp - Bagre mascarilla
NATIONAL:

DISTINCTIVE CHARACTERS:

Dorsal profile of head concave at nape, 3 pairs

of barbels around mouth, the maxillary pair extend-
ing to middle of pectoral fin or beyond in young
individuals; head shield ruqose and granulated pos-
terior to orbit, especially on the supraoccipital
region, taperinq to a wide V toward occipital reqion,
and with a preorbital conical protuberance; supra-
occipital process short, about as long as or longer
than broad at base, with a median keel, its hind end
nearly straight; median longitudinal groove short,
not reaching to supraoccipital process; predorsal
plate V-shaped; premaxillary band of teeth in upper
jaw 6 times as long as broad, mandibulary band of dorsal view of head
teeth in lower jaw deeply curved, and rnedially
interrupted; palate teeth (on roof of mouth) villiform and densely packed in a single small, roughly triangular patch on
each side, its inner edge convex. First dorsal and pectoral fins each with a very strong spine; tip of dorsal fin
produced occasionally into a black filament; total anal fin rays 19 or 20.

Colour: light brown-bronze on top of head and back, whitish below, whole body with a metallic blue lustre;
fin tips black edged; adipose fin and dorsal filament either entirely black or bearing a large black blotch on upper
half; all barbels black tipped. When landed fresh, the fins are scarlet red, body and sides gold glossed; eyes shot
with golden yellow.
* Often misspelt as Arius coelatus
DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERS OF SIMILAR SPECIES OCCURRING IN THE AREA:

Arius platystomus: head depressed, snout duck-bill maxillary

shaped; teeth on roof of mouth in an oval patch on each barbel short
side.
A. subrostratus: snout long and spatulate; maxil-
lary barbels short, not extending beyond orbit; teeth
patches on roof of mouth oval.
A. sumatranus: teeth on roof of mouth in an oval
patch with sparsely packed conical teeth.
A. arius, A. jella, A. maculatus and A. tenuispinis:
teeth on palate globular, forming an elliptical large patch.
Furthermore, anal fin rays 20 to 22 in A. arius and 17 or
18 in A. jelia (19 or 20 anal fin rays in A. caelatus).
Other Arius species known to occur in India and/or
Pakistan: have more than one (2 or 3) patches on roof of
mouth.
Batrachocephalus mino: maxillary barbels absent. A. platystomus A. subrostratus
Osteoqeneiosus militaris: only a pair of stiff,
semiosseous maxillary barbels present.

premaxillary
tooth patch

palate tooth patches

A. arius A. caelatus
A. sumatranus
premaxillary and palate :roof of mouth) tooth patches

SIZE:

Maximum: 45 cm; common between 18 and 30 cm.

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION AND BEHAVIOUR:

In the area, found along the west coast of India, Sri

Lanka and Pakistan. Elsewhere, along the east coast of
India, Bangladesh. Burma, Thailand, the Indo-Australian
Archipelago, but not in the Philippines or.Australia.
Mostly marine.
Feeds mainly on invertebrates and small fishes.

PRESENT FISHING GROUNDS:

Shore waters subjected to tidal influence around
river mouths; most common along the east coast of India.

CATCHES, FISFUNG GEAR AND FORMS OF UTILIZATION:

Separate statistics are not reported for this species.

Caught mainly with stake traps, shore seines and
bagnets; also on hook and line.
Mostiv marked fresh, but also sun salted.

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