Notarius

Alexandre P. Marceniuk & Naércio A. Menezes, 2007, Systematics of the family Ariidae (Ostariophysi, Siluriformes), with a redefinition of the genera., Zootaxa 1416, pp. 1-126 : 81-82

Notarius Gill, 1863

(fig. 70)

Notarius Gill, 1863: 171. Type species: Arius grandicassis Valenciennes, 1840. Type by monotypy. Gender: masculine.

Sciadeops Fowler, 1944: 211. Type species: Sciades troschelii Gill, 1863. Type by original designation and also monotypy(subgenus of Sciades ). Gender: masculine.

Diagnosis. Notarius can be distinguished from all other genera in the Ariidae through two non-exclusive characters: (1) first external branchiostegal ray very thin at proximal portion, wide at distal portion (shared with Arius caelatus , Bagre , Batrachocephalus , Brustiarius , Carlarius , Cochlefelis , Doiichthys , Galeichthys , Ketengus , Neoarius , Netuma , Osteogeneiosus , Sciades emphysetus , S. passany and S. proops ); (2) 15 or more ribs [shared with Bagre , Carlarius , Cochlefelis , Genidens , Neoarius , Netuma , Plicofollis (with exception of P. platystomus ) and Sciades ].

Supplementary morphological characters. Cephalic shield granulated visible under the skin; lateral ethmoid and frontal bones limiting a moderately developed fenestra visible under the skin; medial groove of neurocranium limited by frontal bones and/or on supraoccipital absent (except in N. planiceps ); posterior cranial fontanel well developed, with oval shaped; fenestra limited by supraoccipital, pterotic and sphenotic absent; fossa limited by pterotic, supracleithrum and extrascapular relatively large; epioccipital not invading dorsal portion of cephalic shield; occipital process triangular, moderately long and wide, progressively narrower toward its posterior part (except in N. grandicassis ); anterior and median nuchal plates fused and indistinct, forming a structure of semi-lunar aspect; tooth plates associated with vomer round; accessory tooth plates well developed, triangular or oval shaped, bearing conical teeth; maxillary barbel fleshy and cylindrical; two pairs of mental barbels; base of adipose fin very long, as long as anal-fin base; lateral line not bifurcated at caudal region, reaching base of caudal-fin upper lobe; cleithrum wide, with second dorsal process on its upper portion; posterior cleithral process moderately developed and distinct of second dorsal process of cleithrum.

Remarks. The nominal genus Sciadeops is a junior synonym of Notarius . The inclusion of N. planiceps (Steindachner, 1877) in the genus is supported by supplementary morphological characters and its expected that further studies provide better data for its allocation. N. kessleri (Steindachner, 1877) was preliminary included based on the presence of diagnostic features of the genus in preserved specimens. No specimens of N. armbrusteri Betancur-R. & Acero, 2006, N. biffi Betancur-R. & Acero, 2004, N. cookei (Acero & Betancur-R., 2002), N. insculptus (Jordan & Gilbert, 1883), N. neogranatensis (Acero & Betancur-R., 2002) and N. osculus (Jordan & Gilbert, 1883) could be obtained for examination and their inclusion in Notarius is mainly based on the results obtained by Betancur-R. & Acero (2004).

Distribution and habitat. Eastern and western Central and South America, marine and brackish waters.