Awaous flavus (Valenciennes 1837)


Photo by Raphael M. Macieira
specimen from Brazil

IDENTIFICATION

Head Pores - A', B, C, D, F, G, H' and K', L'; preopercle pores M',N,O'; Head pores can be doubled in some specimens in the oculoscapular canal

Scales - scales in lateral series usually 57-58 (ranging 52-60); transverse series usually 14-16 (ranging 13-17) scales in predorsal midline may be entirely cycloid, entirely ctenoid or a combination being highly variable in number (ranging 0-30)

  

Fins - D1 - VI, none filamentous; D2 - 10(9-11); pectoral fin rays 16 (15-17); anal - 10(9-11); pelvic disk shaped I,5

Head - Males' jaws either long or short; jaw lengths differ greatly between long jawed males and females;

Papillae -

Color - Have 6-8 grayish vertical trunk bars extending from behind pectoral base to slightly anterior to hypural base; first dorsal fin red to reddish orange in life, especially prominent in males.

Distribution - Colombia to Brazil; South America from Rio Magdalena to Belem, Brazil

Habitat - Usually reported from estuaries and river deltas over sand and mud bottoms, seldom in water of much flow and has never been reported in freshwater above tidal influence. The only occasion adults have been collected in shallow flowing water is during reproduction.

Notes -