Notarius biffi — Details

Sea-catfish learn more about names for this taxon

Overview

Comprehensive Description

Description

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Common names: sea-catfish (English), bagre (Espanol), cominata (Espanol)
 
Notarius biffi Betancur & Acero 2004

  Chomba sea-catfish


Body elongate; head narrow, snout overhanging and tapering to a square point, length 1/4-1/3 of SL; rear of head covered with large scattered granules, granules also on 4 crests that extend forwards between eyes; groove on top of head shallow, moderately wide, narrowing to rear; bone on nape at rear of head triangular, its base width 5.5-6.6% of SL; narrow crescent-like bone before dorsal fin; between front nostrils narrow (4.8-5.7% of SL); mouth narrow (width 9-11% of SL); lips thin to moderate; eyes moderate (3.8-4.5% of SL); upper barbels 16.9-21.9% of SL; lower jaw barbells 10.2-13.1% of SL;  roof of mouth with 4 tooth patches, side ones large, long, with waist, pointed at rear; gill opening wide, membranes not adhering to chest;  11-12 rakers on first gill arch, 10-13 on second; no rakers on rear faces of first two arches; bony plate before dorsal spine semilunar, narrow; dorsal fin I, 7; base of 2nd  dorsal fin a littler shorter than that of first dorsal; anal fin 19-20; pectoral 9-10, its spine strongly serrated; plate above pectoral base triangular, pointed; tail base depth  6.1-6.7% of SL.

Back brown to grey; flanks and belly silver; dorsal fin pale to dark; other fins dusky; barbels grey.

Size: 38 cm.

Habitat: demersal; coastal marine and in high-salinity estuaries.

Depth: 10-20 m?

The Gulf of Fonseca (El Salvador) to central Costa Rica.

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Biology

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Inshore marine and brackish waters, and high salinity estuaries (Ref 54794).
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Distribution

Range Description

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This species is endemic to the Eastern Pacific, and is found from the Gulf of Fonseca, El Salvador to central Costa Rica.
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Eastern Central Pacific: tropical Eastern Pacific from central and north Costa Rica and El Salvador. Although Kailola and Bussing (1995) speculate that “Arius” species A extends southwards to Panamá, R. Cooke (pers. comm., 2004) doubts that this species is present in Panamá, at least from Parita Bay eastwards (Ref 54794).
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Depth

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Depth Range (m): 1 (F) - 30 (F)
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Zoogeography

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See Map (including site records) of Distribution in the Tropical Eastern Pacific


 
Global Endemism: All species, East Pacific endemic, Tropical Eastern Pacific (TEP) endemic

Regional Endemism: All species, TEP endemic, Continental TEP endemic, Panamic province endemic, Continent, Continent only

Residency: Resident

Climate Zone: Equatorial (Costa Rica to Ecuador + Galapagos, Clipperton, Cocos, Malpelo)

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Physical Description

Morphology

Size

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Length max (cm): 38.0 (S)
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Size

Max. size

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3.2 cm SL (male/unsexed; (Ref. 54794))
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Diagnostic Description

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Notarius biffi is distinguished from other EP species of Notarius by the following combination of features: a small mouth, its width 34.2–39.3% (mean 36.2%) HL; eye large, its diameter 3.8–4.5% (mean 4.2%); short mandibulary barbels, their length 10.2–13.1% (mean 11.6%) SL; short anterior internarial distance, 17.9–20.8% (mean 19.4%) HL; relatively slender caudal peduncle, depth 6.1–6.7% (mean 6.4%) SL; and gill rakers on first arch 3–4+7–8 (mode 12). The combination of the following characters also distinguish this species from other EP ariids: triangular humeral process, three pairs of barbels present, fleshy furrow between posterior nostrils absent, fleshy groove in median depression of head absent, coarse to sharp granules or spinulations on anterior surface of head shield absent, and gill rakers on rear surfaces of first two gill arches absent (Ref 54794).
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Ecology

Habitat

Habitat and Ecology

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Habitat and Ecology
This demersal species is found in coastal areas, mangroves and in high-salinity estuaries to depths of 20m.

Systems
  • Marine
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Depth range based on 4 specimens in 1 taxon.

Environmental ranges
  Depth range (m): 0.1 - 18

Graphical representation

Depth range (m): 0.1 - 18
 
Note: this information has not been validated. Check this *note*. Your feedback is most welcome.
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Habitat

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Salinity: Marine, Brackish

Inshore/Offshore: Inshore, Inshore Only

Water Column Position: Bottom, Bottom only

Habitat: Soft bottom (mud, sand,gravel, beach, estuary & mangrove), Soft bottom only, Mud, Sand & gravel

FishBase Habitat: Demersal
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Environment

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benthopelagic; brackish; marine; depth range 9 - 30 m (Ref. 54794)
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Trophic Strategy

Feeding

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Feeding Group: Carnivore

Diet: mobile benthic worms, mobile benthic crustacea (shrimps/crabs), mobile benthic gastropods/bivalves, bony fishes
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Life History and Behavior

Reproduction

Reproduction

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Egg Type: Brooded, No pelagic larva, No pelagic phase
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Conservation

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List Assessment

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Red List Category
LC
Least Concern

Red List Criteria

Version
3.1

Year Assessed
2010

Assessor/s
Cooke, R., Acero, A., Betancur, R.

Reviewer/s
Carpenter, K., Polidoro, B., Livingstone, S. (Global Marine Species Assessment Team)

Contributor/s

Justification
This species is restricted to near shore estuaries and mangrove areas from El Salvador to Costa Rica in the Eastern Pacific. It is fairly common and adapts to disturbed habitats, and there is no current indication of population decline. It is listed as Least Concern.
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Conservation status

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IUCN Red List: Not evaluated / Listed

CITES: Not listed
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Population

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Population
No population information is available for this species. However, it is common in shrimp trawls in the Gulf of Fonseca.

Population Trend
Unknown
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Threats

Threats

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Major Threats
There are no major threats known for this species. It is often caught as bycatch in shrimp trawls in El Salvador, and occurs in highly polluted estuaries.
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Least Concern (LC)
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Management

Conservation Actions

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Conservation Actions
There are no known conservation measures for this species.
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