Mees (1974) assigned this species
to Tatia but Ferraris (2007) reverted it
back to the original genera of Centromochlus.
Just recently (September 2019)due
to earlier work carried out by U.K. aquarist and amateur
ichthyologist Steven Grant (2015) a new paper was
released by Bárbara B. Calegariet
al whereas this species (C. schultzi),
Tatia carolae Vari & Ferraris, 2013 and
C. macracanthus Soares-Porto, 2000 were
reclassified to a new genus, Balroglanis.
Reproduction: They leave their eggs
in a gelatinous mass under stones or bogwood. As of
this family the male will fertilise the female internally.
Aquarium Care: Keeping this species
is not too much of a problem as long as the water
is kept clean and not too alkaline with a p.H.of between
6.5 and 7.0. They do like a planted aquarium where
they like to hide during the day. Also provide pipework
for this genera for a choice of hiding places. Diet:
In its native habitat they feed on insects, mostly
ants, beetles, and mayflies and in the aquarium they
will eat anything given such as frozen bloodworm which
they will come out of hiding to feed on, catfish tablets,
daphnia, white worm (sparingly) and any other worm-like
foods. Etymology: Balroglanis:
Meaning "Balrog Catfish" and is derived
from the Maia, a Balrog known as Durin's Bane, who
terrorised Durin the Deathless' descendants in Khazad-dûm,
in J. R. R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings legendarium.
The specific name schultzi: In honour of
Brazilian ethnographer and fish collector Harald Schultz
(1909–1966), who collected holotype. Remarks:
Still found on some online searches as Centromochlus
schultzi.
Common
Name:
None
Synonyms:
Tatia schultzi, Centromochlus
schultzi
Family:
Auchenipteridae
Distribution:
Brazil:
Upper Xingu and Tocantins
River basins. Type locality: Brasilien,
oberer Rio Xingu.
Size:
10.0cm. (4ins)
Temp:
22-25°c (71-77°f.)
p.H.
6.0-7.0.
IUCN
Red List
Centromochlus
(Balroglanis) schultzi is endemic
to Brazil and widely distributed in the Xingu, Tocantins,
upper Madeira, and upper Tapajós river basins.
It is a naturally common but infrequent species, occurring
in small and medium-sized streams. Despite several hydroelectric
projects in the region, C. schultzi has been
recorded upstream of the Lajeado hydroelectric plant
reservoir. Because no significant threats to its population
have been detected, Centromochlus (Balroglanis)
schultzi has been classified as Least
Concern (LC), (IUCN 2022).
Reference:
Bárbara B Calegari,
Richard P Vari, Roberto E Reis, 2019. Phylogenetic
systematics of the driftwood catfishes (Siluriformes:
Auchenipteridae): a combined morphological and molecular
analysis, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society,
, zlz036. Ferraris, C.J. Jr., 2007. Checklist
of catfishes, recent and fossil (Osteichthyes: Siluriformes),
and catalogue of siluriform primary types. Zootaxa
1418:1-628. Grant, S., 2015: Four new subgenera
of Centromochlus Kner, 1858 with comments on the boundaries
of some related genera (Siluriformes: Auchenipteridae:
Centromochlinae). Ichthyofile 3: 1–16. Instituto Chico Mendes de Conservação
da Biodiversidade (ICMBio). 2022. Centromochlus
(Balroglanis) schultzi. The
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2022. Sarmento-Soares, Luisa Maria; Martins-Pinheiro,
Ronaldo Fernando A systematic revision of
Tatia (Siluriformes: Auchenipteridae: Centromochlinae)
Neotropical Ichthyology, 6(3):495-542, 2008.
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