X-CELL PSEUDOTUMORS IN A HARDHEAD CATFISH ARIUS-FELIS (ARIIDAE) FROM LAKE PONTCHARTRAIN, LOUISIANA, USA

X-cell epidermal lesions are described from a single specimen of the h ardhead catfish Arius felis (Ariidae). The lesions exhibited an unusua l growth pattern but did not involve any visceral organs. Histological ly, the lesions resembled those previously described for coldwater fis hes. This is the first report of X-cell lesions from Lake Pontchartrai n, Louisiana, USA, and the hardhead catfish represents the first warmw ater species affected with the disease.