Cochlefelis

Alexandre P. Marceniuk & Naércio A. Menezes, 2007, Systematics of the family Ariidae (Ostariophysi, Siluriformes), with a redefinition of the genera., Zootaxa 1416, pp. 1-126 : 52-53

Cochlefelis Whitley, 1941

(fig. 40)

Cochlefelis Whitley, 1941: 8. Type species: Arius spatula Ramsay & Ogilby, 1866. Type by original designation. Gender: feminine.

Diagnosis. Eight shared characters distinguishes Cochlefelis from the remaining ariid genera: (1) fenestra delimited by lateral ethmoid and frontal bones very small or absent (shared with Batrachocephalus , Netuma , Plicofollis and Sciades ); (2) medial groove of neurocranium little differentiated, its margins not well defined (shared with Bagre , Galeichthys , Notarius planiceps , Sciades couma , S. herzbergii , S. guatemalensis , S. leptaspis and S. passany ); (3) anterior portion of opercle subtriangular (fig. 41) (shared with Ketengus , Sciades emphysetus , S. passany and S. proops ); (4) anterior process of metapterygoid truncate [shared with Cinetodus , Pachyula , Plicofollis , Potamarius and Potamosilurus (with exception of P. velutinus )]; (5) wing-like process of parasphenoid formed by a single long and thin process [shared with Amphiarius , Aspistor , Bagre , Cathorops (with exception of C. dasycephalus ), Hemiarius , Notarius (with exception of N. planiceps ), Pachyula , Plicofollis platystomus , Potamarius , Potamosilurus (with exception of P. velutinus ), Sciades emphysetus , S. passany and S. proops ]; (6) third basibranchial in form of a long and thin hourglass (shared with Galeichthys and Potamarius ); (7) mesial portion of fourth epibranchial not well differentiated (shared with Galeichthys ); (8) more than 39 caudal vertebrae (shared with Bagre ).

Supplementary morphological characters. Cephalic shield scarcely granulated visible under the skin; lateral ethmoid and frontal limiting a very small fenestra little evident under the skin; medial groove of neurocranium not very distinct, limited by frontal bones and/or on supraoccipital; posterior cranial fontanel moderately developed, long and narrow; fenestra limited by supraoccipital, pterotic and sphenotic absent; fossa limited by pterotic, supracleithrum and extrascapular relatively large; epioccipital not invading dorsal portion of cephalic shield; occipital process triangular, moderately long and large, progressively narrower toward its posterior part; anterior and median nuchal plates fused and indistinct, forming a structure of semi-lunar aspect; vomerine tooth plates round; accessory tooth plates transversely long and narrow, bearing conical teeth; maxillary barbels fleshy and cylindrical; two pairs of mental barbels; base of adipose fin moderately long, about half as long as anal-fin base; lateral line not bifurcated at caudal region, reaching base of caudalfin upper lobe; cleithrum broad with second dorsal process on its upper portion; posterior cleithral process moderately long and distinct from second dorsal process of cleithrum.

Remarks. C. dioctes (Kailola, 2000) and C. insidiator (Kailola, 2000) have not been examined and their preliminary inclusion in the genus is based on the presence of external diagnostic features obtained from the literature.

Distribution and habitat. Southern New Guinea, brackish and fresh waters.