@article{fdi:010081428,
  title = {{B}iology and ecology of sea catfish ({A}riidae) of estuarine, lagoon and coastal ecosystems in {W}est {A}frica},
  author = {{S}imier, {M}onique and {O}sse, {O}. {J}. {F}. and {S}adio, {O}. and {E}coutin, {J}ean-{M}arc},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{T}he family {A}riidae, sea catfish of the order {S}iluriformes, is widely distributed throughout the world, particularly in tropical and subtropical areas. {T}he three species of {A}riidae found on the coasts and estuaries of {W}est {A}frica are the smoothmouth catfish {C}arlarius heudelotii ({V}alenciennes 1840), the rough-head catfish {C}arlarius latiscutatus ({G}unther 1864) and the {G}uinean sea catfish {C}arlarius parkii ({G}unther 1864). {T}hey have been increasingly exploited by artisanal and industrial coastal fisheries in recent decades, but there is still little information available on their ecology and biology. {T}he aim of this study was to deepen our knowledge of these three {W}est {A}frican {A}riidae species based on a dataset collected between 1980 and 2013 during experimental fishing programmes. {T}hey were carried out in {M}auritania in the {B}anc d'{A}rguin {N}ational {P}ark, in {S}enegal in the {S}ine {S}aloum estuary including the {B}amboung {M}arine {P}rotected {A}rea ({MPA}), in {T}he {G}ambia in the {G}ambia estuary, in {G}uinea-{B}issau in the {U}rok {I}slands {MPA} in the {B}ijagos archipelago, in {G}uinea in the {F}atala estuary and {D}angara inlet, and in {C}ote d'{I}voire in the {E}brie {L}agoon. {C}. latiscutatus accounted for 65%, {C}. parkii for 29% and {C}. heudelotii for 6% of total number of {A}riidae sampled. {C}. latiscutatus was abundant in the {S}ine {S}aloum and {G}ambia estuaries as well as in {G}uinea and {G}uinea-{B}issau and was the only species present in the {E}brie {L}agoon. {C}. parkii was in the majority in {M}auritania. {T}he three species were recorded in a salinity range of 0 to 50, a temperature range of 19 to 34 degrees {C}, in areas 1.7 to 15 m depth, and transparency ranging from 0.1 to 4 m ({S}ecchi disk depth). {C}. heudelotii was present in less saline (25 vs. 32-34), less warm (27 vs. 29 degrees {C}) and less transparent (0.8 m vs. 1.6 m) waters than the two other species. {T}he maximum sizes (453 mm, 614 mm and 525 mm for, respectively, {C}. heudelotii, {C}. latiscutatus and {C}. parkii) were comparable to those recorded at sea. {L}ength-weight relationships calculated for each species showed b coefficients greater than 3. {S}ex ratios were always in favour of females. {T}he number of mature individuals and their smallest size at maturity were calculated per species, sex and study area. {A} size of 27-28 cm at first maturity was estimated for females of {C}. latiscutatus. {A} few dozen records made it possible to describe fecundity and cases of oral incubation by females. {T}he diet of the three species was composed of crustaceans, fish and molluscs, confirming their classification as generalist predators. {T}hanks to their high environmental tolerance, these sea catfish populations are able to occupy both the continental shelf and adjacent estuaries throughout their life cycle, with the exception of spawning, which generally takes place at sea.},
  keywords = {{A}riidae ; euryhalinity ; marine catfish ; tropical estuary ; {W}est {A}frica ; {MAURITANIE} ; {SENEGAL} ; {GAMBIE} ; {GUINEE} {BISSAU} ; {GUINEE} ; {COTE} {D}'{IVOIRE} ; {BANC} {D}'{ARGUIN} {PARC} {NATIONAL} ; {SINE} {SALOM} {ESTUAIRE} ; {BAMBOUNG} ; {GAMBIE} {ESTUAIRE} ; {BIJAGOS} {ARCHIPEL} ; {FATALA} {ESTUAIRE} ; {EBRIE} {LAGUNE}},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{J}ournal of {F}ish {B}iology},
  volume = {[{E}arly access]},
  numero = {},
  pages = {[15 ]},
  ISSN = {0022-1112},
  year = {2021},
  DOI = {10.1111/jfb.14751},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010081428},
}