Biology and ecology of sea catfish (Ariidae) of estuarine, lagoon and coastal ecosystems in West Africa

The family Ariidae, sea catfish of the order Siluriformes, is widely distributed throughout world, particularly in tropical and subtropical areas. three species Ariidae found on coasts estuaries West Africa are smoothmouth Carlarius heudelotii (Valenciennes 1840), rough-head latiscutatus (Günther 1864) Guinean parkii 1864). They have been increasingly exploited by artisanal industrial coastal fisheries recent decades, but there still little information available their ecology biology. aim this study was to deepen our knowledge these African based a dataset collected between 1980 2013 during experimental fishing programmes. were carried out Mauritania Banc d'Arguin National Park, Senegal Sine Saloum estuary including Bamboung Marine Protected Area (MPA), Gambia estuary, Guinea-Bissau Urok Islands MPA Bijagos archipelago, Guinea Fatala Dangara inlet, Côte d'Ivoire Ebrié Lagoon. C. accounted for 65%, 29% 6% total number sampled. abundant as well only present majority Mauritania. recorded salinity range 0 50, temperature 19 34°C, areas 1.7 15 m depth, transparency ranging from 0.1 4 (Secchi disk depth). less saline (25 vs. 32–34), warm (27 29°C) transparent (0.8 1.6 m) waters than two other species. maximum sizes (453 mm, 614 mm 525 for, respectively, heudelotii, parkii) comparable those at sea. Length–weight relationships calculated each showed b coefficients greater 3. Sex ratios always favour females. mature individuals smallest size maturity per species, sex area. A 27–28 cm first estimated females latiscutatus. few dozen records made it possible describe fecundity cases oral incubation diet composed crustaceans, fish molluscs, confirming classification generalist predators. Thanks high environmental tolerance, populations able occupy both continental shelf adjacent life cycle, with exception spawning, which generally takes place