Galeichthys

Galeichthys Valenciennes, 1840

(fig. 51)

Galeichthys Valenciennes in Cuvier & Valenciennes, 1840b: 28. Type species: Galeichthys feliceps Valenciennes, 1840. Type by subsequent designation by Bleeker (1863). Gender: masculine.

Diagnosis. Distinct from the remaining ariid genera by the following exclusive (1 to 7) and shared (8 to 14) characters: (1) distal 1/3 of maxillary conspicuously acute, lateral margins of this bone parallel along proximal two thirds; (2) anguloarticular with a dorsal process; (3) first pharyngobranchial absent; (4) posterior portion of second basibranchial long and wide (fig. 52); (5) mesial part of first epibranchial very wide and compressed; (6) space for insertion of teeth on fifth ceratobranchial very wide; (7) posterior cleithral process indistinct, attached to second dorsal process of cleithrum by a bony blade (fig. 53); (8) mesial laminar projection of frontal bones absent (fig. 1) (shared with Amphiarius, Arius, Aspistor, Cathorops, Cephalocassis, Cryptarius, Doiichthys, Hemiarius, Nedystoma, Nemapteryx, Osteogeneiosus, Potamarius and Potamosilurus latirostris); (9) posterior branch of lachrymal short and mesially directed (fig. 3) (shared with Sciades proops); (10) occipital process long and narrow along its entire length (fig. 1) (shared with Cephalocassis melanochir, Doiichthys and Nedystoma); (11) transcapular process transversal to the main body axis (shared with Amphiarius, Aspistor, Cathorops, Cinetodus, Cryptarius, Nemapteryx, Notarius and Pachyula); (12) posteroventral portion of opercle little pronounced posteriorly [shared with Bagre panamensis, Carlarius (with exception of C. heudelotii), Genidens, Ketengus, Plicofollis (with exception of P. platystomus) and Sciades (with exception of S. couma and S. felis)]; (13) second external branchiostegal ray almost as wide as first (shared with Batrachocephalus, Cathorops, Cephalocassis, Cryptarius, Ketengus and Nedystoma); (14) third basibranchial in form of a long and narrow hourglass (fig. 52) (shared with Cochlefelis and Potamarius).

Supplementary morphological characters. Cephalic shield smooth, covered by muscle and scarcely visible under the skin; lateral ethmoid and frontal limiting a moderately developed fenestra evident under the skin; medial groove of neurocranium not very distinct, limited by frontal bones and/or on supraoccipital; posterior cranial fontanel very reduced in young, partially closed in adult specimens; fenestra limited by supraoccipital, pterotic and sphenotic absent; fossa limited by pterotic, supracleithrum and extrascapular very reduced; epioccipital not invading dorsal portion of cephalic shield; occipital process long and narrow as broad at base as at posterior part; anterior and median nuchal plates free and distinct, forming a structure of semi-lunar aspect; vomerine tooth plates present and transversely elongate; accessory tooth plates narrow and transversely elongate, bearing conical teeth; maxillary barbel fleshy and cylindrical; two pairs of mental barbels; base of adipose fin very long, as long as base of anal-fin base; lateral line not bifurcated at the caudal region, not reaching base of caudal-fin lobes; cleithrum large; posterior cleithral process indistinct, attached to second dorsal process of cleithrum by a bony blade.

Remarks. Cleared and stained specimens of G. peruvianas Lütken, 1874 were not examined and its inclusion in the genus was based solely on observation of morphological external characters.

Distribution and habitat. Southern Africa and northwestern South America, predominantly marine species.