Superregnum: Eukaryota
Cladus: Unikonta
Cladus: Opisthokonta
Cladus: Holozoa
Regnum: Animalia
Subregnum: Eumetazoa
Cladus: Bilateria
Cladus: Nephrozoa
Superphylum: Deuterostomia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Infraphylum: Gnathostomata
Megaclassis: Osteichthyes
Superclassis/Classis: Actinopterygii
Classis/Subclassis: Actinopteri
Subclassis/Infraclassis: Neopterygii
Infraclassis: Teleostei
Megacohors: Osteoglossocephalai
Supercohors: Clupeocephala
Cohors: Otomorpha
Subcohors: Ostariophysi
Sectio: Otophysa
Ordo: Siluriformes
Familia: Ariidae
Genus: Amphiarius
Species: A. phrygiatus – A. rugispinis
Name
Amphiarius Marceniuk & Menezes, 2007
Gender: masculine.
Type species: Arius rugispinis Valenciennes, 1840, by original designation.
References
Marceniuk, A.P., Menezes, N.A. (2007) Systematics of the family Ariidae (Ostariophysi, Siluriformes), with a redefinition of the genera. Zootaxa, 1416: 1–126. Full text
Amphiarius is a genus of sea catfishes (order Siluriformes) of the family Ariidae. It includes two species, the Kukwari sea catfish, A. phrygiatus, and the softhead sea catfish, A. rugispinis.[1]
Taxonomy
A. phrygiatus and A. rugispinis were both originally described by Achille Valenciennes in 1840 as Arius species, where they have been traditionally placed. They have also been classified in the genus Notarius. Since then, it has been recognized that these two species form a natural, monophyletic grouping and were suggested to represent a new, undescribed genus. The genus Amphiarius was finally erected for these two species in 2007.[1]
Species
Amphiarius phrygiatus (Valenciennes, 1840) (Kukwari sea catfish)
Amphiarius rugispinis (Valenciennes, 1840) (Softhead sea catfish)
Distribution
Amphiarius species are distributed in marine, brackish and fresh waters of North and eastern South America.
Description
Amphiarius are distinguished from all other ariids by the presence of accessory tooth plates that are small to moderate, roughly round, and laterally located.[1]
Ecology
Like other ariid catfishes, Amphiarius species are mouthbrooders.
Relationship to humans
Both species are caught and marketed for human consumption.
References
Marceniuk, Alexandre P.; Menezes, Naércio A. (2007). "Systematics of the family Ariidae (Ostariophysi, Siluriformes), with a redefinition of the genera" (PDF). Zootaxa. 1416: 1–126.
Froese, Rainer and Pauly, Daniel, eds. (2011). Species of Amphiarius in FishBase. December 2011 version.
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