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Sarmento-Soares, L.M. et al 2013 (4)

Description: Dorsal spines (total): 1; Dorsal soft rays (total): 5; Anal soft rays: 9 - 10; Vertebrae: 29. This species can be diagnosed from other species of Centromochlus by having eye diameter less than 16% of Head Length (vs. 20-35%). It differs from C. heckelii, C. existimatus, C. altae, and C. perugiae by absence of anterior nuchal plate (vs. presence); from C. concolor, C. reticulatus, C. macracanthus, C. punctatus, and C. schultzi, by having smooth anterior margin of dorsal spine (vs. with serrae); and from C. romani by a trapezoid quadrate, with metapterygoid in contact with hyomandibula (vs. enlarged quadrate, interposed between metapterygoid and hyomandibula). It can be further distinguished from C. heckelii and C. existimatus by having pectoral-fin spine 20-25% of SL (vs. 29- 42%) and 6 branched anal-fin rays (vs. 4 or 5); and from all congeners, except C. perugiae and C. romani, by having male modified anal fin with enlarged third unbranched ray, about twice thicker than first unbranched ray. Body shape (shape guide): elongated. Habitat: Found in 1st and 2nd order streams, with 1.22 to 3.16 m in width and 0.17 to 0.72 m in depth, characterised by clear water and slow current that varies from 0.15 to 0.36 cm/s, over sand bottom with litter, and riparian surrounding vegetation. Collected under trunks and principally inset somewhat compressed submerged litter banks. Diet: Feeds on small fish (Moenkhausia phaeonota, Characidae), shrimps, aquatic insect larvae and nymphs, fragments of terrestrial arthropods (ants, spiders), seeds and particulate organic matter. Etymology: The genus name Ferrarissoaresia: Named after C. Ferrarris and Soares; ferrarisi: Named for C. J. Ferraris Jr., for his numerous contributions to the systematics of Siluriformes, especially Auchenipteridae, including the first hypothesis recognising Centromochlinae as sister to all other Auchenipteridae. Eponymy: Dr Luisa Maria Sarmento-Soares Porto is an ichthyologist at the Museu de Bologia. Dr Carl James Ferraris Jr (d: 1950) is an American ichthyologist and fish taxonomist who is a recognised authority on catfish. The specific name meridionalis: Latin for southern, referring to distribution in the southern Brazilian Amazon, a region referred to as “Meridional Amazon”.

None

Centromochlus meridionalis, Tatia meridionalis

Auchenipteridae

Soth America: Rio Teles Pires, Rio Tapajós drainage in Mato Grosso State, Brazil.

6.0cm. (2¾ins)

22-25°c (71-77°f.)

6.0-7.0.

Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors. 2025. FishBase. World Wide Web electronic publication. www.fishbase.org, ( 04/2025 ).
Sarmento-Soares, L.M.; Cabeceira, F.G.; Carvalho, L.N.; Zuanon, J. & Akama, A., 2013 "Centromochlus meridionalis, a new catfish species from the southern Amazonian limits, Mato Grosso State, Brazil (Siluriformes: Auchenipteridae)" (Neotropical Ichthyology, Vol. 11 No. 4).