A review of the freshwater fork-tailed catfishes (Pisces: Ariidae) of northern New Guinea, with descriptions of two new species

WA Museum Records and Supplements | Updated 9 years ago

Abstract: The ariid catfish of northern New Guinea are reviewed and the genus Arius Valenciennes and subgenus Brustiarius Herre are diagnosed. Three New Guinea species, Hemipimelodus velutinus Weber, H. taylori Roberts and H. macrorhynchus Weber are transferred to Arius Valenciennes, and a replacement name A. robertsi, is proposed for A. taylori, preoccupied. The five northern New Guinea species represented are Arius (Brustiarius) nox Herre, A.(B.) solidus Herre, A. velutinus (Weber) and two new species of Arius Valenciennes. Synonymies and diagnoses are based on examination of types, biological and osteological data, and study of large series of material. Arius utarus sp. nov. is closely related to A. leptaspis (Bleeker) of southern New Guinea. It differs from all other ariids in northern New Guinea by a combination of characters including a broad mouth, rough head shield, long barbels and a palatal dentition consisting of four groups of teeth traversing the front of the palate; and from A. leptaspis by the number of trunk vertebrae, head size, caudal peduncle length and several other relative body parts. A. coatesi sp. nov. attains a large size and is distinguished by several characteristics, particularly its short barbels, small eye and constant palatal dentition of two tooth patches. All species appear to be endemic to the major river basins of northern New Guinea, i.e. the Mamberamo, Idenburg, Sepik and Ramu Rivers. Diagnoses, descriptions, illustrations and some biological data are provided for the new taxa. A dichotomous key to the five species also is given.