''Sciades parkeri'', the gillbacker sea catfish, is a species of

sea catfish The Ariidae or ariid catfish are a family of catfish that mainly live in marine waters with many freshwater and brackish water species. They are found worldwide in tropical to warm temperate zones. The family includes about 143 species. Fossil ...

found in coastal rivers in

Brazil Brazil, officially the Federative Republic of Brazil, is the largest country in South America. It is the world's List of countries and dependencies by area, fifth-largest country by area and the List of countries and dependencies by population ...

French Guiana French Guiana, or Guyane in French, is an Overseas departments and regions of France, overseas department and region of France located on the northern coast of South America in the Guianas and the West Indies. Bordered by Suriname to the west ...

Guyana Guyana, officially the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, is a country on the northern coast of South America, part of the historic British West Indies. entry "Guyana" Georgetown, Guyana, Georgetown is the capital of Guyana and is also the co ...

Suriname Suriname, officially the Republic of Suriname, is a country in northern South America, also considered as part of the Caribbean and the West Indies. It is a developing country with a Human Development Index, high level of human development; i ...

, and

Venezuela Venezuela, officially the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, is a country on the northern coast of South America, consisting of a continental landmass and many Federal Dependencies of Venezuela, islands and islets in the Caribbean Sea. It com ...

. While usually no more than 90 cm in length, it can reach lengths of up to 190 cm and weigh up to 50 kg.

Etymology

The fish is named in honor of Traill's friend Charles Stewart Parker (1800-1868), a British merchant who supplied the author with a drawing of the catfish and its skin.

References

* Ariidae Catfish of Brazil Euryhaline fish of Brazil Fish of French Guiana Fish of Guyana Fish of Suriname Fish of Venezuela Fish described in 1832 Taxa named by Thomas Stewart Traill {{Ariidae-stub