Pararius Whitley, 1940

Marceniuk, Alexandre Pires, Oliveira, Claudio & Ferraris Jr, Carl J., 2024, A new classification of the family Ariidae (Osteichthyes: Ostariophysi: Siluriformes) based on combined analyses of morphological and molecular data, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 200 (2), pp. 426-476 : 472

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).

Figures

Figure 38. Representative skulls, in dorsal view, and distribution of the subtribe Doiichthyina.A, Brustiarius nox, AUM 47488. B, Paracinetodus carinatus, AUM 47550.C, Cochlefelis spatula, AUM 50296. D, Nedystoma dayi, AUM 47500. E, Aceroichthys dioctes, AUM 47507. F, Pachyula crassilabris, AUM 47509. G, Pararius proximus, AUM 47486.H, Potamosilurus velutinus, AUM 47489.* marine, ** brackish waters, *** freshwater.

Figure 51. Pararius proximus, Papua New Guinea and Australia, photograph by Ricardo Betancur-R., type species of the genus.