Cathorops steindachneri, or Steindachner's sea catfish, is a species of catfish in the family Ariidae. It was described by Charles Henry Gilbert and Edwin Chapin Starks in 1904. It is a tropical, marine and freshwater-dwelling catfish which occurs between Costa Rica and Peru. It dwells at a maximum depth of 20m (70feet).[1] It reaches a maximum total length of 36cm (14inches), more commonly reaching a TL of 20cm (10inches).
The fish is named in honor of Austrian ichthyologist Franz Steindachner.[2]
Due to insufficient statistical information on the species, the IUCN redlist lists Cathorops steindachneri as Data Deficient. It notes that pollution and coastal development pose a threat for the species.[1] It is marketed commercially, although its small size makes it an uncommon food fish.