Chilhuil sea catfish explained

Chilhuil sea catfish (Bagre panamensis), also called the Chihuil,[1] is a species of sea catfish in the family Ariidae. It was described by Theodore Gill in 1863, originally under the genus Aelurichthys.[2] It inhabits subtropical marine and brackish waters in the eastern Pacific region, including California, USA; Colombia, Guatemala, Peru, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama and Mexico.[3] It dwells at a depth range of 3to, most often between 10and. It reaches a maximum total length of 51cm (20inches).

The Chilhuil sea catfish is of important commercial value to fisheries, and is sold fresh. It has been consumed since pre-Columbian times.[3] Due to its wide distribution in the eastern Pacific, as well as a lack of known threats or observed population decline, the IUCN redlist currently lists the species as Least Concern. It notes that the species' range partially includes areas under marine protection.[3]

Notes and References

  1. http://www.fishbase.org/comnames/CommonNamesList.php?ID=3056&GenusName=Bagre&SpeciesName=panamensis&StockCode=3252 Common names of Bagre panamensis
  2. Gill, T. N., 1863 (before 27 Oct.) [ref. 1681] Descriptive enumeration of a collection of fishes from the western coast of Central America, presented to the Smithsonian Institution by Captain John M. Dow. Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia v. 15: 162-174.
  3. http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/183765/0 Bagre panamensis