Aspistor quadriscutis (Valenciennes, 1840)
Bressou sea catfish
photo by Carvalho Filho, A.

Family:  Ariidae (Sea catfishes), subfamily: Ariinae
Max. size:  50 cm TL (male/unsexed); max.weight: 33.3 g
Environment:  benthopelagic; freshwater; brackish; marine
Distribution:  South America: Atlantic coastal rivers from Guyana to northeastern Brazil.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 1-1. Three pair of barbels on rostral region, two pairs on lower jaw, one pair on posterior end of maxilla; end of maxilla barbel reaching pectoral fin insertion; large saddle-shaped bony plate with rugosa surface in front of dorsal fin, anterior margin of this plate waved but no deep medial incision; body yellow or gray-yellow dorsally, white ventrally (Ref. 13608).
Biology:  Found in turbid waters over muddy bottoms in shallow coastal areas, also around estuaries (Ref. 3265), and coastal rivers (Ref. 39852). Food items include bottom-living invertebrates. Marketed fresh. Exported frozen (Ref. 5217). Reproduction period is probably between September and November. Egg diameter is 9-11 mm. Males practice mouth brooding of the eggs. (Ref. 35381).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 17 August 2011 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  traumatogenic


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