|
Trachelyopterus
galeatus (Linnaeus, 1766) |
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| Image
contributors to this species: |
|
Allan James (4)
Peru
Aquarium Group (1) Daniel
Blom (1) Enrico
Richter (1)
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| ScotCat
Sources: |
 
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| Other
Sources: |
 
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| Relevant
Information: |
Dorsal spines (total):
1; Dorsal soft rays (total): 5 - 6; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays:
20 - 25. The body is stocky, the head a little depressed, the inferior
jaw a little prognathous, the cephalic helmet covered with finely
pigmented skin in adults, with a fontanelle shorter than the orbital
diameter. Occurs in swamps. Well-adapted to hypoxic environments,
being able to survive for hours, emerged. Adults feed on small fishes,
arthropods, worms and sometimes on fruits. The spiny structure of
the pectoral fins enables the male to hold the females during mating
(internal fertilization). Sperm can be kept in the female's genital
tract for several months, owing to a gelatinous emission from the
seminal vesicle of the male. At maturity, the size of the adhesive
eggs (20% of the female's weight) is 3 mm. Nine days after hatching,
alevin size is 1.5 cm and they feed on microscopic worms or small
insects. At around 11 days, their negative phototropism pushes them
to hide themselves under branches or rocks. Aquarium Care:
As with most species in this family they need hiding places such
as pipes/caves where they will reside most of the day. Will come
out at night to prowl so smaller fishes will be looked upon as prey
although this is not one of the most aggressive members of this
family. Diet: Most prepared foods such as tablet
and pellet and frozen foods such as bloodworm. If the aquarium is
dimly lit you can see the it coming out to feed. Remarks:
Depending what river sytem they are imported from they can be variable
in colouration, from light to dark. |
| Common
Name: |
Common
Woodcat |
| Synonyms: |
Silurus
galeatus, Pseudauchenipterus galeatus, Trachycorystes galeatus,
Parauchenipterus galeatus, Auchenipterus maculosus, Parauchenipterus
paseae |
| Family: |
Auchenipteridaeblycipitidae |
| Distribution: |
South
America: Brazil, French Guiana, Peru, Surinam, Trinidad
& Tobago |
| Size:
|
22cm. (8¾ins) |
| Temp: |
20-24°c
(67-75°f.) |
| p.H. |
6.0-7.5. |
| Reference: |
Boujard, T., M.
Pascal, F.J. Meunier and P.-Y. Le Bail 1997 Poissons de
Guyane. Guide écologique de l'Approuague et de la réserve
des Nouragues. Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, Paris,
219 p.
Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors.
2009.FishBase. World Wide Web electronic publication. www.fishbase.org,
version (01/2011). |
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