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California Academy of Sciences (3)

Description: Pseudobunocephalus is distinguished from all other aspredinid genera by the following unique features: mandibular teeth restricted to a patch near symphysis of lower jaw; no contact between the metapterygoid and quadrate; autopalatine posteriorly forked with two separate cartilages; absence of the fourth pharyngobranchial; absence of gill rakers on all branchial arches; and lack of bifid hemal spines on vertebrae that articulate with anal-fin pterygiophores. Aquarium Care: Very small species that can probably be kept as per other members of this family with a quite tank with sand and plants. Diet: Tablet foods and small live foods. Etymology: The genus name is a combination of the Greek word pseudes, meaning false or deceptive, plus the aspredinid genus Bunocephalus. It alludes to the fact that members of this new genus have previously been mistaken for juveniles of various species of Bunocephalus. The specific name of bifidus in Latin means forked, referring to the posterolateral mental barbels having two branches. Remarks: A species not seen very often in the hobby.

Dwarf Banjo Catfish

Bunocephalus bifidus

Aspredinidae

South America: Amazon River basin of Bolivia, Brazil, Ecuador, and Peru. Type Locality: Creek, Yurimaguas [Huallaga River, Peru].

5.0cm. (2ins)

24-28°c (75-83°f.)

Ferraris, C.J. Jr., 2007. Checklist of catfishes, recent and fossil (Osteichthyes: Siluriformes), and catalogue of siluriform primary types. Zootaxa 1418:1-628.
Friel, J.P., 2003. Aspredinidae (Banjo catfishes). p. 261-267. In R.E. Reis, S.O. Kullander and C.J. Ferraris, Jr. (eds.) Checklist of the Freshwater Fishes of South and Central America. Porto Alegre: EDIPUCRS, Brasil.
Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors. 2023. FishBase. World Wide Web electronic publication. www.fishbase.org, ( 04/2023 ).
Grant, S. (2021): Banjos, Dorads and Woodcats. Aspredinidae, Doradidae and Auchenipteridae Catfishes. ATS-Aquashop, Neustadt am Rübenberge: 1-300.