Belize Sea Catfish

Differs from all congeners by possessing 19-20 gill rakers on first arch; 18-21 anal-fin rays; posterior margin of pectoral-fin spine with short and inconspicuous serrations; orbital diameter 3.6-4.4% SL; interorbital distance 12.9-15.1% SL; and dorsal fin spine length 29.4-33.3% of distance from tip of snout to pelvic-fin origin. Additional diagnostic characters include snout length 6.9-8.9% SL; supraoccipital process (8.8-10.5% SL); lacking fleshy papillae intercalated with gill rakers on first two arches; remarkably granulated cephalic shield; dorsal-fin spine 15.9-17.6% SL, dorsal-fin spine as long as pectoral-fin spine; nuchal plate 5.6-6.4% SL; distance between anterior nostrils 5.1-6.1% SL; distance between posterior nostrils 5.9-7.6%SL; mouth width 10.0-13.2%SL; premaxilla width 6.3-11.9% SL; lower lobe of caudal-fin 25.5-28.2%SL; pelvic fin pale; head length 25.8-31.9%SL; snout length 6.9-8.9%SL; and distance between lateral cornu of lateral ethmoid and external limb of supracleithrum 22.2-26.4%SL (Ref. 75004).

Dorsal soft rays (total): 7; Analsoft rays: 18 - 21

Inhabits mangrove areas (Ref. 75004).

Cathorops belizensis, the Belize sea catfish, is a species of sea catfish. It is found in mangrove channels in Belize City. Maximum recorded body length is 32 cm.