A new classification of the family Ariidae (Osteichthyes: Ostariophysi: Siluriformes) based on combined analyses of morphological and molecular data Author Marceniuk, Alexandre Pires Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal da Paraíba, conjunto Presidente Castelo Branco III, João Pessoa, PB 58050 - 000, Brazil & Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia e Conservação, Universidade Estadual da Paraíba, Campina Grande, PB 58429 - 500, Brazil & Departamento de Biologia Estrutural e Funcional, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Estadual Paulista Júlio de Mesquita Filho (UNESP), Botucatu, SP 18618 - 970, Brazil a_marceniuk@hotmail.com Author Oliveira, Claudio Departamento de Biologia Estrutural e Funcional, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Estadual Paulista Júlio de Mesquita Filho (UNESP), Botucatu, SP 18618 - 970, Brazil Author Ferraris Jr, Carl J. 545 NE Floral Pl., Portland, OR 97232, USA text Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 2024 2023-08-21 200 2 426 476 http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/zoolinnean/zlad078 journal article 10.1093/zoolinnean/zlad078 0024-4082 11240120 5D6C7EBF-E568-4100-9364-2DD357003878 Pararius Whitley, 1940 BI 1, ML 75 ( Figs 1–3 , 38G and 51 ) Type species: Arius proximus Ogilby, 1898 . Diagnosis Lateral horn of lateral ethmoid variable in length and laterally oriented (12, 1> 0); posterior cranial fontanel absent (26, 1> 0); epiphyseal bar indistinct (28, 0> 1); temporal fossa very reduced (39, 1> 0); accessory tooth plates small, oval to rounded (60, 0> 1); lateral margins of orbitosphenoid progressively diverging anteriorly (63, 0> 1); lateral and mesial portions of premaxilla of different sizes (121, 0> 1). Included species Pararius mastersi Ogilby, 1898 Pararius proximus Ogilby, 1898 . Habitat and distribution: Brackish and marine waters, southern New Guinea and northern Australia ( Fig. 38 ). Remarks The recognition of a close relationship between Pararius proximus and Pararius mastersi is a new result not found in previous studies ( Kailola 2004 , Marceniuk and Menezes 2007 , Betancur-R. 2009, Marceniuk et al. 2012 ).