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Over 50,000 color images of worldwide
plant and animal species

Over 50,000 color images of worldwide
plant and animal species

Arius guatemalensis
Sea Catfish - Widehead
KingdomAnimal (Animalia)
PhylumBackboned Animals (Chordata)
ClassBoney Fish (Teleostomi)
OrderCatfishes (Siluriformes)
FamilyCatfish - Sea (Ariidae)
GenusArius
Scientific NameArius guatemalensis
Common NameSea Catfish - Widehead
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SPECIES INFO
Widehead sea catfish is found along the coast of Mexico from Sonora south through much of Central America. This is a marine catfish that is known to enter freshwater. This catfish grows to about 16 inches in length. This robust catfish has a tall first dorsal fin and a deeply forked tail.

Sea catfish family (Ariidae) are found worldwide in tropical to subtropical regions in fresh, backish, and marine waters. There are about 120 medium to large species spread into about 14 different genera. The genera Arius, Bagre, Potamarius, and Cathorops belong here. (Some authors have used the name Tachysuridae for this family.)

Catfish, Order Siluriformes, are found throughout the world. Although most of them are freshwater kinds, a few are found in a marine environment. They are characterized by having whiskers and barbels around their mouths. Many search for their food by smell and make little use of their small eyes.

Bony fish, Class Teleostomi, are a class of chordates that include the majority of fish-like animals found on earth. They are characterized by a bony jaw and a bony skeleton. They are found in both fresh and marine waters.

Backboned Animals (Phylum Chordata) are the most advanced group of animals on earth. These animals are characterized by having a spinal cord or backbone. Most members have a clearly defined brain that controls the organism through a spinal cord. Fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals are in this phylum.

Currently, some taxonomists believe that the fish should be divided into two groups (sharks and regular fishes) and that there are some other primitive groups in the phylum such as hagfish or lampreys.

Animal Kingdom contains numerous organisms that feed on other animals or plants. Included in the animal kingdom are the lower marine invertebrates such as sponges and corals, the jointed legged animals such as insects and spiders, and the backboned animals such as fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals.