|
| familia = [[Ariidae]]
| subfamilia = '''Galeichthyinae'''
| subfamilia_authority = [[Arturo Acero Pizarro|Acero P.]] & [[Ricardo Betancur-Rodriguez|Betancur-R.]], 2007
| genus = '''''Galeichthys'''''
| genus_authority = [[Achille Valenciennes|Valenciennes]] in [[Georges Cuvier|G. Cuvier]] & Valenciennes, 1840
| type_species = ''Galeichthys feliceps''
| type_species_authority = Valenciennes, 1840
| subdivision_ranks = Species
| subdivision =
*''[[Galeichthys ater]]''
*''[[Galeichthys feliceps]]''
*''[[Galeichthys peruvianus]]''
}}
'''''Galeichthys''''' is a [[genus]] of [[sea catfish]]es ([[order (biology)|order]] Siluriformes) of the [[family (biology)|family]] [[Ariidae]].<ref name="Ferraris">{{cite journal|url=http://silurus.acnatsci.org/ACSI/library/biblios/2007_Ferraris_Catfish_Checklist.pdf|title=Checklist of catfishes, recent and fossil (Osteichthyes: Siluriformes), and catalogue of siluriform primary types|first=Carl J., Jr.|last=Ferraris|journal=[[Zootaxa]]|volume=1418|pages=1–628|year=2007|format=[[PDF]]}}</ref> The only genus in the [[scientific classification|subfamily]] Galeichthyinae, this genus includes threefour [[species]], ''G. ater'', ''G. feliceps'', and ''G. peruvianus'', and an undescribed species from [[South Africa]].<ref name="Acero">{{citeFishBase genus journal|url=http://www.pfeil-verlag.de/04biol/pdf/ief18_2_06.pdf|title=Monophyly, affinities,genus and= subfamilialGaleichthys clades| ofmonth sea catfishes (Siluriformes: Ariidae)|first=Arturo|last=Acero P.|coauthors=Betancur-R.,December Ricardo|journal=Ichthyol. Explor.year Freshwaters|volume=18|issue=2|pages=133–143|date=June 20072011}}</ref>
== Species ==
* ''[[Galeichthys ater]]'' <small>[[Francis de Laporte de Castelnau|Castelnau]], 1861</small> (Black sea catfish)
* ''[[Galeichthys feliceps]]'' <small>[[Achille Valenciennes|Valenciennes]], 1840</small> (White barbel)
* ''[[Galeichthys peruvianus]]'' <small>[[Christian Frederik Lütken|Lütken]], 1874</small> (Peruvian sea catfish)
* ''[[Galeichthys trowi]]'' <small>[[Cynthia Kulongowski|Kulongowski]], 2010</small>
==Distribution==
''Galeichthys'' species are predominantly marine species distributed in [[Southern Africa]] and northwestern [[South America]].<ref name="Marceniuk"/>{{cite ''Gjournal|url=http://www. ater'' is known from the [[Cape of Good Hope]] of southern Africamapress.<ref name="Ferraris"com/> ''Gzootaxa/2007f/zt01416p126.pdf|title=Systematics feliceps''of isthe widelyfamily distributedAriidae in(Ostariophysi, southern AfricaSiluriformes), foundwith ina freshwater,redefinition estuarine,of andthe coastalgenera|first=Alexandre environmentsP.<ref name|last=Marceniuk|coauthors="Ferraris"/> ''G. peruvianus'' is found on the [[Pacific]] coast of South AmericaMenezes, fromNaércio A.|journal=[[EcuadorZootaxa]] to |volume=1416|pages=1–126|year=2007|format=[[PeruPDF]].}}</ref name="Ferraris"/>
==Description==
These fish have three pairs of [[barbel (anatomy)|barbels]]: a pair of fleshy and cylindrical maxillary barbels and two pairs of mental barbels. The base of the [[adipose fin]] is as long as the base of the [[anal fin]]. ''G. peruvianus'' reaches about 35.0 centimetres (13.8 in) [[fish measurement|TL]], ''G. ater'' about 45.0 cm (17.7 in) TL, and ''G. feliceps'' about 55.0 cm (21.7 in) TL.<ref name="Marceniuk">{{cite journal|url=http://www.mapress.com/zootaxa/2007f/zt01416p126.pdf|title=Systematics of the family Ariidae (Ostariophysi, Siluriformes), with a redefinition of the genera|first=Alexandre P.|last=Marceniuk|coauthors=Menezes, Naércio A.|journal=[[Zootaxa]]|volume=1416|pages=1–126|year=2007|format=[[PDF]]}}</ref> ''G. ater'' is dark brown to blackish, slightly lighter ventrally with the whole undersurface covered with brown specks.<ref name=ater/> ''G. feliceps'' is brown to greyish or greenish brown dorsally and whitish on its sides and ventrally; the midline of the abdomen is whitish and never pigmented.<ref name=feliceps/>
==Ecology==
''G. feliceps'' is generally found in large shoals on the muddy bottoms in turbid waters, usually on the coastline and estuaries, though it is also found in rivers.<ref name=feliceps/> ''G. peruvianus'' is found in coastal waters.<ref name=peruvianus>{{FishBase species|genus=Galeichthys|species=peruvianus|year=2007|month=Aug}}</ref> ''G. ater'' is [[carnivore|carnivorous]], feeding on [[benthic]] [[invertebrate]]s, primarily [[annelid]]s.<ref name=ater>{{FishBase species|genus=Galeichthys|species=ater|year=2007|month=Aug}}</ref> ''G. feliceps'' feeds on [[crayfish]], small fish, and [[crab]]s.<ref name=feliceps>{{FishBase species|genus=Galeichthys|species=feliceps|year=2007|month=Aug}}</ref>
''G. feliceps'' is considered a nuisance of shore and ski-boat [[angling|anglers]] in southern Africa as little else is caught.<ref name=feliceps/> Its spines are [[venom]]ous and wounds should be treated immediately.<ref name=feliceps/> ''G. feliceps'' is marketed [[Smoking (cooking)|smoked]].<ref name=feliceps/> ''G. peruvianus'' is marketed fresh and also reduced to [[fish meal]].<ref name=peruvianus/>
==References==
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