Nemapteryx

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 : 74-75

Nemapteryx Ogilby, 1908

(fig. 65)

Nemapteryx Ogilby, 1908: 3, 10. Type species: Arius stirlingi Ogilby, 1898. Type by original designation and also monotypy. Gender: feminine.

Diagnosis. Distinguished from all other members of the Ariidae by the combination of the following shared characters: (1) mesethmoid posterior branches very long, limiting more than half of the anterior cranial fontanel [shared with Cathorops (with exception of C. dasycephalus )]; (2) lateral processes of vomer very wide (shared with Arius , Aspistor , Bagre , Batrachocephalus , Cinetodus , Galeichthys , Notarius planiceps , Osteogeneiosus , Pachyula , Plicofollis tenuispinis , P. platystomus , Potamosilurus and Sciades ); (3) vomerine tooth plates present [shared with Aspistor , Bagre , Brustiarius , Cathorops dasycephalus , Cochlefelis , Galeichthys , Genidens (with exception of G. genidens ), Hemiarius , Neoarius , Netuma , Notarius , Plicofollis (with exception of P. platystomus ), Potamosilurus (with exception of P. velutinus ) and Sciades ]; (4) medial groove of neurocranium present [shared with Arius , Bagre , Batrachocephalus , Brustiarius , Carlarius , Cathorops , Cochlefelis , Cryptarius , Galeichthys , Genidens , Ketengus , Neoarius , Netuma , Notarius planiceps , Osteogeneiosus , Plicofollis , Potamarius , Potamosilurus (with exception of P. latirostris ) and Sciades ]; (5) face for articulation between palatine and lateral ethmoid at central portion of former bone (shared with Brustiarius , Cochlefelis , Galeichthys and Neoarius ); (6) crest delimiting contact area between mesethmoid and premaxillary beginning at two thirds latero-anterior portion of former bone (shared with Arius , Bagre , Batrachocephalus , Cochlefelis , Hemiarius , Netuma and Potamosilurus velutinus ).

Supplementary morphological characters. Cephalic shield granulated visible under the skin; lateral ethmoid and frontal limiting a large fenestra evident under the skin; medial groove of neurocranium very distinct, limited by frontal bones and/or on supraoccipital; posterior cranial fontanel well differentiated, large and 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 funnel shaped, moderately long, its posterior part conspicuously narrower than its base; anterior and median nuchal plates fused and indistinct, forming a structure of semi-lunar aspect; tooth plates associated with vomer round; accessory tooth plates present, bearing conical teeth; maxillary barbel fleshy and cylindrical; two pairs of mental barbels; base of adipose fin moderately long, about half as long as anal-fin base; lateral line not bifurcated at caudal region, reaching base of caudal-fin upper lobe; cleithrum narrow, with second dorsal process on its upper portion; posterior cleithral process short, distinct from second dorsal process of cleithrum.

Distribution and habitat. Southern New Guinea and northern Australia, marine and brackish waters.