(DRAFT) - Taxonomy
Species catfish, sea
Species Id M010080
Date 27 AUG 96
TAXONOMY
NAME - catfish, sea
OTHER COMMON NAMES - Smallmouth catfish, silver catfish, hardhead and tourist trout
ELEMENT CODE -
CATEGORY - Fish
PHYLUM AND SUBPHYLUM - Chordata,
CLASS AND SUBCLASS - Osteichthyes,
ORDER AND SUBORDER - Siluriformes,
FAMILY AND SUBFAMILY - Ariidae,
GENUS AND SUBGENUS - Arius,
SPECIES AND SSP - felis,
SCIENTIFIC NAME - Arius felis
AUTHORITY - Linnaeus
TAXONOMY REFERENCES - 79
COMMENTS ON TAXONOMY -
Naked skin, large serrated spines located at the front of the dorsal and
pectoral fins, adipose fins, and a forked caudal fin are marine catfish
features common with freshwater catfishes (Ictalurus). No barbels on
nostrils, steel blue-gray dorsally, and silvery sides are distinctive marine
catfish features. The sea catfish has two pain of short rounded barbels on
lower chin, maxillary barbels nearly as long as the head. Dorsal and
pectoral fins without first rays elongated separate sea catfish from
gafftopsail catfish with elongated first rays. Body is elongated,
steel-blue above and silvery below.*79*
Taxonomy - 1 (DRAFT) - Status
Species catfish, sea
Species Id M010080
Date 27 AUG 96
STATUS
Coded Status
See Comments
REFERENCES FOR STATUS - 79
COMMENTS ON STATUS -
Sea catfish are not favored sport or food fishes; however, their widespread
distribution and abundance along the nearshore coast from southern Florida
to western Texas cause them to rank high in trawl and saltwater angler
catches in the Gulf of Mexico. Angler surveys along the northern gulf coast
ranked sea catfish harvest ususally 2nd or 3rd and no lower than 13th among
all saltwater finfishes. Industrial and commerical catches of this fish are
purposefully low because area with high abundance are avoided unless
suitable higher valued fishes co-exist. Catfish are usually culled from
trawl catches because of low consumer acceptance in pet food products or as
human food fish.*79*
Status - 1 (DRAFT) - Distribution
Species catfish, sea
Species Id M010080
Date 27 AUG 96
DISTRIBUTION
Distribution - 1 HABITAT ASSOCIATIONS
Habitat Associations - 1 (DRAFT) - Food Habits
Species catfish, sea
Species Id M010080
Date 27 AUG 96
FOOD HABITS
TROPHIC LEVEL -
OMNIVORE
REFERENCES FOR TROPHIC LEVEL - 79
LIFESTAGE FOOD FOOD PART
General Cnidaria Not Specified
General Polychaetes Not Specified
General Snails Not Specified
General Crustaceans Not Specified
General Algae Not Specified
Juvenile Microorganisms Not Specified
REFERENCES FOR GENERAL FOOD - 79
REFERENCES FOR JUVENILE FOOD - 79
COMMENTS ON FOOD -
Algae, sea grasses, coelentrates, holothurians, gastropods, polychates,
crustaceans (shrimp and crabs), and fishes were common items in stomachs of
sea catfish. Large fish scales and human garbage indicated scavenging. It
was reported that sea catfish concentrated at a hot-water discharge to feed
on discharged impinged prey organisms and small blue crabs when the water
temperature remained below 38 degrees C.*79*
COMMENTS ON ADULT FOOD -
It was found that adult sea catfish eat 44% organic detritus, 34% large
invertebrates, and 21% microinvertebrates.*79*
COMMENTS ON JUVENILE FOOD -
Juvenile sea catfish have been reported to feed on microcrustaceans while
still being carried in males' mouths. It was reported that larger juvenile
sea catfish stomachs contained 56% organic detritus, 26% microinvertebrates,
and 16% larger invertebrates.*79*
Food Habits - 1 (DRAFT) - Environment Associations
Species catfish, sea
Species Id M010080
Date 27 AUG 96
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOCIATIONS
G = General A = Adult
LIM = Limiting RA = Resting Adult
J = Juvenile FA = Feeding Adult
RJ = Resting Juvenile BA = Breeding Adult
FJ = Feeding Juvenile P = Pupae
L = Larvae E = Egg
RL = Resting Larvae
FL = Feeding Larvae
LIFESTAGE ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOCIATIONS
A Water Temperature: Between 21-27 degrees C
A Water Temperature: Specified in Comments
J Water Temperature: Specified in Comments
A
L
J
J
REFERENCES FOR ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOC_ - 79
REFERENCES FOR ADULT ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOC_ - 79
REFERENCES FOR JUVENILE ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOC_ - 79
REFERENCES FOR LARVAE ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOC_ - 79
COMMENTS ON ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOCIATIONS -
Depth preference of sea catfish appears to be related to water temperatures
and bottom composition. They begin moving offshore or into warmer waters
associated with deep channels as water temperatures drop below 10 to 15
degrees C in late fall only to return in spring when water temperatures
rise above these levels. Higher abundances in shallow inshore coastal
areas and estuaries appear related to organic substrate and associated
invertebrate food sources. The low frequency of catfish in small seine
samples suggests they do not commonly occur in shoreline beach
habitats.*79*
Water Movement
Water movements appear to be used by ariid catfishes to locate and obtain
prey. Spawning and oral gestations occurred in shallower bay areas where
water movements are reduced.*79*
Turbidity
Sea catfish tend to be found in turbid, shallow, coastal waters with sand
or mud substrate. There is a preference for inshore muddy or sandy bottoms
of high organic content. Sounds produced by these fish could enable
catfish to avoid obstructions, and probably predators, at close range.
Sounds also enable catfish to communicate with each other during breeding
and nocturnal schooling. Sea catfish produce "percolator" choruses from
Environment Associations - 1 (DRAFT) - Environment Associations
Species catfish, sea
Species Id M010080
Date 27 AUG 96
1700 to 2250 during April through October. A summer lull occurs in July
and August when light intensity falls below 1900 fc. Sound orientation and
communication, along with highly developed olfactory senses, would be
especially useful in turbid waters.*79*
COMMENTS ON ADULT ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOC_ -
Temperature
Adult sea catfish prefer water temperatures above 25 degrees C, but avoid
waters over 37 degrees C. Sea catfish were collected from 38 to 39 degrees
effluent but some fish were observed in apparent thermal shock. They leave
inshore areas for deeper channels or offshore areas when water temperatures
drop below 5 to 6 degrees C.*79*
Salinity
Adult sea catfish have been captured from waters with salinities ranging
from 0 to 40 ppt.*79*
COMMENTS ON BREEDING ADULT ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOC_ -
Spawning and oral gestation occurred in shallower bay areas where water
movements are reduced.*79*
COMMENTS ON JUVENILE ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOC_ -
Juveniles were collected in 16.7 to 28.3 ppt salinities. Juveniles have
also been found in water with 0.1 ppt salinity. Juveniles are reported to
be more numerous than adults in low salinity waters.*79*
COMMENTS ON RESTING JUVENILE ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOC_ -
Juveniles, independent of parents, tend to be found in quiet water
bays.*79*
COMMENTS ON RESTING LARVAE ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOC_ -
Yolk-sac larvae were found in the mouths of males in water salinities 8.3
to 12.8 ppt.*79*
Environment Associations - 2 (DRAFT) - Life History
Species catfish, sea
Species Id M010080
Date 27 AUG 96
LIFE HISTORY
Morphology
Naked skin, large serrated spines located at the front of the dorsal and
pectoral fins, adipose fins, and a forked caudal fin are marine catfish
features common with freshwater catfishes (Ictalurus). No barbels on
nostrils, steel blue-gray dorsally, and silvery sides are distinctive marine
catfish features. The sea catfish has two pain of short rounded barbels on
lower chin, maxillary barbels nearly as long as the head. Dorsal and
pectoral fins without first rays elongated separate sea catfish from
gafftopsail catfish with elongated first rays. Body is elongated,
steel-blue above and silvery below.*79*
Spawning
Sea catfish reach sexual maturity before 2 years of age. Sea catfish spawn
from May to August in back bays sometimes as shallow as 0.6 to 1.2 m (2 to 4
ft) with salinities from 13 to 30 ppt. Females develop flaplike, adipose
tissue on pelvic fins and pelvic fins of females of are larger than pelvic
fins of males. It was speculated that the highly adhesive nature of
extruded eggs from sea catfish and the highly modified pelvic fin flaps
suggested fertilization on and transfer from the female's pelvic fins to the
male's mouth. The eggs might be picked up from sandy depressions since eggs
of these two ariid catfish are demersal and early stages (gastrula) are not
reported in collections from males' mouth. Female sea catfish from the
Mississippi Sound contained 6 to 8 mm eggs in April, 9 to 14 mm eggs in May,
and 14 to 16 mm eggs in June and July. Ova in females during early June
enlarged by the addition of yolk and became greenish shortly before
ovulation. Male sea catfish contained motile sperm from March until
mid-July. Males carried developing young in their mouths from early May
until early August.*79*
Fecundity and Eggs
The large eggs (14 to 19 mm in diameter) and parental care by males offset
the low fecundities of 20 to 64 eggs per female. Smaller, nonfunctional
hyaline eggs, attached opposite the micropyle of larger extruded eggs, may
serve as a nutritional source for the males during the 60 to 80-day oral
gestation period. Sea catfish eggs are 12 to 19 mm in diameter, greenish,
and demersal; fertilized eggs are oval or elliptical shaped and 14 to 18 mm
long. A thin, colorless, adhesive film covering is lost with embryological
development. Eggs hatch in approximately 30 days at 30 degrees C. Since
the eggs and larvae are retained in the male's mouth until yolk sacs are
absorbed, adverse external environmental conditions are supportive actions
of the parent. Sea catfish eggs, if left unattended, would be quickly
covered by sand and sediment.*79*
Yolk-Sac Larvae
Sea catfish yolk-sac larvae are normally 29 to 45 mm total length. This
stage remains in the male's mouth for 2 to 4 weeks until the yolk-sac is
absorbed. The juvenile stages ranged in length from 68 to 88 mm TL for sea
catfish. Yolk-sac larvae were collected from adult sea catfish in
Life History - 1 (DRAFT) - Life History
Species catfish, sea
Species Id M010080
Date 27 AUG 96
salinities from 8.33 to 12.78 ppt but not at higher salinities.*79*
Larvae
A larval stage is considered not to exist since all juvenile morphological
features are visible prior to yolk absorption.*79*
Juveniles and Adults
All adult characteristics are visible at yolk absorption but juveniles
remain in or return to their parent's mouths for protection for a short
time. Juveniles were found in male mouths in waters of 16.66 to 28.32 ppt.
Older juveniles are able to successfully osmoregulate in higher salinities.
Juveniles fed heavily on planktonic crustacea either inside or outside
parent's mouths. Feeding by males carrying eggs or juveniles has not been
documented.*79*
Adults
Distribution and abundance in gulf coastal and estuarine waters have been
related to spawning activities as well as to water temperatures and
salinities. Studies indicated that sea catfish were sampled or observed
seasonally in greater numbers inshore at higher temperatures (>20 degrees C)
and salinities (>20 ppt). Adults avoided lower water temperatures by
migrating offshore in winter and returning inshore in the spring.
Life History - 2 (DRAFT) - Management Practices
Species catfish, sea
Species Id M010080
Date 27 AUG 96
MANAGEMENT PRACTICES
COMMENTS ON MANAGEMENT PRACTICES -
No management practices were listed for the sea catfish in reference number
79.
Management Practices - 1 (DRAFT) - References
Species catfish, sea
Species Id M010080
Date 27 AUG 96
References
79* Muncy, R. J., W. M. Wingo. 1983. Species Profiles: Life
Histories and Environmental Requirements of Coastal Fishes and
Invertebrates (Gulf of Mexico) -- Sea Catfish and Gafftopsail
Catfish. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Biol. Rep. 82(11.5) pp 17.
References - 1