Pararius Whitley, 1940

BI 1, ML 75

(Figs 1–3, 38G and 51)

Type species: Arius proximus Ogilby, 1898 .

Diagnosis

Lateral horn of lateral ethmoid variable in length and laterally oriented (12, 1> 0); posterior cranial fontanel absent (26, 1> 0); epiphyseal bar indistinct (28, 0> 1); temporal fossa very reduced (39, 1> 0); accessory tooth plates small, oval to rounded (60, 0> 1); lateral margins of orbitosphenoid progressively diverging anteriorly (63, 0> 1); lateral and mesial portions of premaxilla of different sizes (121, 0> 1).

Included species

Pararius mastersi Ogilby, 1898

Pararius proximus Ogilby, 1898 .

Habitat and distribution: Brackish and marine waters, southern New Guinea and northern Australia (Fig. 38).

Remarks

The recognition of a close relationship between Pararius proximus and Pararius mastersi is a new result not found in previous studies (Kailola 2004, Marceniuk and Menezes 2007, Betancur-R. 2009, Marceniuk et al. 2012).