Notarius Arius grandicassis Sciadeops Sciades troschelii Sciades Systematics of the family Ariidae (Ostariophysi, Siluriformes), with a redefinition of the genera. Alexandre P. Marceniuk Naércio A. Menezes Zootaxa 2007 1416 1 126 64Z5 286639 urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:086E7B0F-D030-44BD-9DCC-8CAEB178CBAA Actinopterygii Ariidae Notarius Animalia Notarius Gill 1863:171 Siluriformes 81 Chordata genus  (fig. 70)   NotariusGill, 1863: 171. Type species: Arius grandicassisValenciennes, 1840. Type by monotypy. Gender: masculine.  SciadeopsFowler, 1944: 211. Type species: Sciades troscheliiGill, 1863. Type by original designation and also monotypy(subgenus of Sciades). Gender: masculine.  Diagnosis. Notariuscan be distinguished from all other genera in the Ariidaethrough 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. passanyand S. proops); (2) 15 or more ribs [shared with Bagre, Carlarius, Cochlefelis, Genidens, Neoarius, Netuma, Plicofollis(with exception of P. platystomus) and Sciades].  FIGURE 70. Notarius grandicassis, MZUSP 61341, 150 mm TL. Lateral view. 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 Sciadeopsis a junior synonym of Notarius. The inclusion of N. planiceps(Steindachner, 1877) in the genus is supported by supplementary morphological characters and its expected thatfurther 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. armbrusteriBetancur-R. & Acero, 2006, N. biffiBetancur-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 Notariusis 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.