Boofhead Catfish

Dorsal spines (total): 1; Dorsal soft rays (total): 7; Analspines: 0; Analsoft rays: 16 - 20

Occurs in lakes, rivers, muddy coastal seas and estuaries (Ref. 5259). Inhabits fresh water in upper reaches of streams, also found in brackish estuaries and lower reaches of rivers (Ref. 44894). Feeds on fishes, prawns, insects, terrestrial fruits, aquatic plants, bottom detritus (Ref. 5259, 44894) and mollusks (Ref. 2847).

Occurs in lakes, rivers, muddy coastal seas and estuaries (Ref. 5259). Inhabits fresh water in upper reaches of streams, also found in brackish estuaries and lower reaches of rivers (Ref. 44894). Feeds on fishes, prawns, insects, terrestrial fruits, aquatic plants, bottom detritus (Ref. 5259, 44894) and mollusks (Ref. 2847). Breeds between the late dry and early wet season (September to January) in coastal lagoons and flooded swamps. Males orally incubate the eggs until they hatch and guard the fry for about 4 weeks afterwards. A good angling and eating species (Ref. 44894).

fisheries: commercial; gamefish: yes

Arius leptaspis (Bleeker, 1862)

USNM 217050, Fly 75–5, 2: 308–479 mm.

USNM 217051, Fly 75–6, 1: 440 mm.

USNM 217052, Fly 75–19, 1: 328 mm.

USNM 217053, Fly 75–26, 1: 249 mm.

USNM 217054, Fly 75–30, 1: 130 mm.

Arius Cuvier and Valenciennes, 1840 (type-species Pimelodus arius Hamilton-Buchanan, 1822, by tautonymy), as herein employed, includes most ariid species with palatal teeth.

Arius leptaspis is widely distributed in freshwater in Australia (Lake, 1971:23) as well as in central-southern New Guinea, and has been reported from northern New Guinea. It is common in lakes, lagoons, and tributaries of the Middle Fly. It is a broad-mouthed, broad-headed species; snout broadly rounded; tooth band of upper jaw completely or almost completely included when mouth is closed. Maxillary barbel reaching beyond tip of pectoral spine in specimens under 200 mm, shorter in larger specimens but always reaching beyond origin of pectoral spine. Eyes lateral, 19–30 in specimens 126–479 mm (negatively allometric). Gill rakers on first gill arch usually 15–17 (but see below); gill rakers absent on posterior faces of first and second gill arches. Upper limb of second gill arch with only a slight thickening, scarcely noticeable. Snout without soft anterior projection. Dorsum of head broadly rounded from side to side, with a narrow median groove (often poorly developed or obscured by mucus and skin). Pectoral fin usually with 11 segmented rays. Anal fin pterygiophores 18. Free vertebral centra posterior to Weberian apparatus 46–49 (3: 130–294 mm). Color in life: dorsum bluish black, dark purplish, or dark wine red; usually a series of vertical rows of iridescent golden round spots centered on dorsolateral lateral line organs, a coloration not occurring in any other Fly ariid; ventrum white.

Two specimens from the Lorentz River (ZMA 115.066, 129–135 mm), otherwise similar to A. leptaspis from the Fly, have 20 and 22 gill rakers on the first gill arch (6+1+13 and 8+1+13). Bleeker's holotype (RMNH 3060, 207 mm, from SW coast of New Guinea) has 15 on its left side and 16 on its right (5+1+9 and 5+1+10).

The salmon catfish (Neoarius leptaspis), also known as the boofhead catfish, the freshwater forked tailed catfish, the lesser salmon catfish, and the triangular shield catfish, is a species of catfish in the family Ariidae. It was described by Pieter Bleeker in 1862, originally under the genus Hexanematichthys. It inhabits marine, brackish and freshwaters in Australia and New Guinea, at a maximum known depth of 135 m (443 ft). It reaches a maximum standard length of 60 cm (24 in).

The diet of the salmon catfish includes insects, mollusks, prawns, finfish and aquatic plants. It is preyed upon by fish such as Scleropages jardinii and the Barramundi, and snakes in the species Acrochordus arafurae.

The salmon catfish breeds between September and January.