Head flattened
and wedge shaped. Profile almost straight, sloping slightly towards
snout. Dorsal 6/7 rays. Small adipose fin and a long anal fin. The
ventral fins are placed behind the dorsal fin and has 7/8 rays.
Eyes lateral. Marbled markings to
body. Two black bands along body split by a white band. Some specimens
have a yellow tinge but may lose this in captivity. There can be
differences in seperate individuals. Aquarium Care:
If kept with other species they would need to be the same same size
or larger species such as Loriicarids and larger Characins such
as Silver Dollars. Can be
kept with equal sized conspecifics. Sexual Differences:
In common with the rest of the Auchenipteridae family
the males possess an elongated and thickened anal fin, a genital
papilla. The male has it modified into a copulatory organ with the
first and second ray thickened and longer, it is thought that the
male uses this to clasp the female during the spawning embrace.
Sexually active males also have an elongated and curved dorsal spine
and the maxillary barbels are also elongated.
Common
Name:
Slopehead
Catfish
Synonyms:
None
Family:
Auchenipteridaeblycipitidae
Distribution:
South
America: Venezuela;
Orinoco basin. Type locality: Los esteros de Camaguán,
km 270, Estado Guárico; Venezuela
