Coco sea catfish
(Bagre bagre)
Classification
Species:
Bagre bagre
Genus:
Bagre
Family: Ariidae - Sea catfishes
Order: Siluriformes - Catfishes
Superclass: Osteichthyes - Bony fishes
General data
Scientific names:
Coco sea catfish
Habitat:
Saltwater
Climate:
Tropical
Native to coast of:
South America
Distribution:
Atlantic Ocean
The coco sea catfish (Bagre bagre) is a species of sea catfish in the family Ariidae. It was described by Carl Linnaeus in 1776, originally under the genus Silurus. It inhabits tropical marine and brackish waters ranging between Colombia and the Amazon River, in South America. It dwells at a maximum depth of 50 m (160 ft).
It reaches a maximum total length of 55 cm (22 in), more commonly reaching 40 cm (16 in).
The diet of the coco sea catfish includes bony fish and benthic crustaceans. It is preyed on by the smalltail shark.
It is of commercial interest to fisheries, and is marketed fresh.