Six New Species of Fork-tailed Catfishes (Pisces, Teleostei, Ariidae) from Australia and New Guinea

Abstract

Six new species of Arius (Teleostei: Ariidae) are described from estuarine waters of southern New Guinea and northern Australia. Arius dioctes sp. nov. is present in both regions and is distinguished by its large maximum size, small eyes, fixed (non-depressible) jaw teeth, broad mouth, and yellow lower body. Arius insidiator sp. nov. has a much depressed body, long, angular ribs, small eyes covered by skin and fixed jaw teeth. It too has a yellow lower body. Arius pectoralis sp. nov. is a slender catfish with strong, numerous serrae along the hind margin of the pectoral spines and dark margins on the dorsal, pectoral and the caudal fins. Arius hainesi sp. nov. has fleshy lips, small mouth, partly restricted gill openings, short barbels, ridges in the skin on the back below the dorsal fin, and often a dark mouth and branchial chamber. The barbels of Arius hardenbergi sp. nov. are thick proximally. This species also has a fleshy snout, an extensive head shield with broad supraoccipital process and a long-based adipose fin. Arius paucus sp. nov. is a freshwater species very similar to Arius midgleyi Kailola and Pierce and inhabits the river systems draining into the Gulf of Carpentaria.