Tete sea catfish
📖 Overview
Common in coastal marine and brackish waters . Inhabits medium and large rivers to an elevation of at least 25 m . Marketed fresh or salted . Aquarium keeping: not suitable for home aquarium; adults in seawater; minimum aquarium size >150 cm .
🔬 Taxonomy
🐟 Physical Description
This species is distinguished from its congeners by the following characters: osseous medial groove present; lateral margin of sphenotic notched, narrower medially than anteriorly; fleshy medial groove of neurocranium, never surpassing posterior margin of eyes; pterotic lateral margin convex, sometimes angled; gill rakers on the first and second gill arches 30-36; mouth narrow 9.7-12.7% SL; median portion of mesethmoid narrow, medial notch of mesethmoid narrow and deep; external posterior branch of lateral ethmoid columnar and thin; fenestra delimited by mesethmoid and lateral ethmoid conspicuous .Cross section: oval.
🌀 Behaviour
Behavioural data for Tete sea catfish is currently being reviewed.
🦐 Diet
🥚 Reproduction
Males mouthbrooder.
🌍 Habitat & Distribution
Marine; freshwater; brackish; demersal; pH range: 6.8 - 8.0; dH range: 8 - 30. Tropical; 22°C - 26°C ; 24°N - 5°S
🌿 Ecology
📐 Morphometrics
🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance
🛡️ Conservation Assessment
📊 Population Risk & Fisheries
⚠️ Venom Profile
- pain
- oedema
- rare systemic effects
Wound care, analgesia.
References: Compiled from Bhide (2018), Halstead et al. (1988) and family-specific envenomation literature
🍽️ Edibility & Flavour
"Tete sea catfish is an edible species."
- Clear, bright eyes — cloudy eyes indicate age
- Firm flesh that springs back when pressed
- Fresh ocean smell, never strong or ammonia-like
- Bright red or pink gills, not grey or brown
- Shiny, moist skin with scales tightly attached
- Cloudy or sunken eyes
- Strong fishy or ammonia odour
- Soft, mushy flesh that doesn't spring back
- Discoloured or dry flesh
⚡ Nutrition
Detailed nutritional data for Tete sea catfish is currently being compiled from USDA FoodData Central.
🔬 Mercury Safety
Mercury data for Tete sea catfish has not yet been assigned. Please consult FDA/EPA guidance for general seafood safety advice.
🌿 Sustainability
🔬 Full Nutritional Profile
Per 100g - Raw, per 100g - Source: USDA FoodData Central templates (generic fish average)
📊 Population Dynamics
| Year | Region | Index | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| - | - | - |
🌐 Names & Taxonomy
| Language | Common Names |
|---|---|
| 🇬🇧English | Colombian Shark Catfish · tete sea catfish |
| 🌍CES | křížovec Seemannův |
| 🇫🇷French | Mâchoiron Tété |
| 🇵🇹Portuguese | Bagre-marinho-colombiano |
| 🇪🇸Spanish | Bagre Lisa · bagre tete · Cuminate Negro |
Scientific Synonyms
| Scientific Name | Author | Year | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ariopsis simonsi | Starks, 1906) Starks | 1906 | Synonym |
| Arius jordani | Eigenmann & Eigenmann | 1888 | Synonym |
| Arius seemanni | Günther | 1864 | Synonym |
| Galeichthys eigenmanni | Gilbert & Starks | 1904 | Synonym |
| Galeichthys gilberti | Jordan & Williams | 1895 | Synonym |
| Galeichthys jordani | Eigenmann & Eigenmann | 1888 | Synonym |
| Galeichthys seemanni | Günther | 1864 | Synonym |
| Galeichthys simonsi | Starks | 1906 | Synonym |
| Hexanematichthys jordani | Eigenmann & Eigenmann | 1888 | Synonym |
| Hexanematichthys seemanni | Günther | 1864 | Synonym |
| Hexanematichthys simonsi | Starks | 1906 | Synonym |
| Sciades seemanni | Günther | 1864 | Synonym |
| Tachisurus jordani | Eigenmann & Eigenmann | 1888 | Synonym |
| Tachisurus seemanni | Günther | 1864 | Synonym |
| Tachysurus eigenmanni | Gilbert & Starks | 1904 | Synonym |
🔍 Similar Species
🗺️ Global Occurrence Map
Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 14 records indexed .
👥 Community & Contribute
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