Distribution:
circumglobal
Habitat:
Brackish waters; sand and bottoms of bays; end of river or mud rivermouths.
Remarks:
The Ariidae family, also called sea catfishes, occurs in the tropical to warm temperate seas, depth can range to 100 m. They are easily recognizable by their three pairs of barbells, resembling “whiskers.” The tail fin is deeply forked; adipose fin present; bony plates on head and near dorsal fin; spinuous dorsal and pectoral fins, with 14-40 soft rays on anal fin. Male sea catfishes carry eggs in their mouth before hatching.
The family contains about 21 genera and approximately 150 species.
References: Nelson 2006, Allen and Robertson 1994