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Ingo Seidel (1) R. von Ihering, 1907 (1) Allan James (1) Hans-Georg Evers (1)

Aspidoras rochai is the type species for this genera. The Aspidoras genera differ from Corydoras by their different behaviour such as their swimming habits. The eyes are smaller, body smaller and a smaller head shape in Aspidoras compared with Corydoras. Aspidoras posses a duel fontanel bone structure in the skull whereas Corydoras have only the one larger fontanel. Lineage: All Aspidoras belong to Lineage 2 and when there is a revision they will stay as Aspidoras von Ihering, 1907 with the type species of A. rochai Ihering, 1907. As of the latest update (Dias et al 2024), Aspidoras rochai has been placed in Lineage 2 and has retained the genus name of Aspidoras. Aquarium Care: Aspidoras rochai is fairly uncommon in the hobby but as with all of this genus they are best kept in groups of six or more and are best housed with small fishes that are not aggressive. Provide a planted area in the tank for cover and include a soft substrate such as sand or small rounded gravel. Diet: Flake, tablet foods, small live and frozen foods. Remarks: As far as can be ascertained this species has never been seen in the hobby. (2012). The first specimen pictured is similar to the original description of several light rounded spots on operculum and flanks although R.von Ihering stated that he could not give a full description of the lecotype and the paralectotype owing to the damage to the dorsal and caudal fin which was completely missing as shown in the second image, which is the Lecotype. Many species of Aspidoras are difficult to tell apart unless there is area catchment information available.

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Callichthyidae

South America: Brazil, Federal state Ceará, Fortaleza, 03° 45' S / 38°35' W. Type Locality: Fortaleza, capital of State of Ceará, Brazil.

Male: 4.5cm (1¾ins) Female: 5.0cm (2ins)

21-25°C (69-77°F)

6.0-7.2.

Alexandrou, Markos & Taylor, Martin. (2011). Evolution, ecology and taxonomy of the Corydoradinae revisited.
Angelica C Dias, Luiz F C Tencatt, Fabio F Roxo, Gabriel de Souza da Costa Silva, Sérgio A Santos, Marcelo R Britto, Martin I Taylor, Claudio Oliveira, Phylogenomic analyses in the complex Neotropical subfamily Corydoradinae (Siluriformes: Callichthyidae) with a new classification based on morphological and molecular data, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2024;, zlae053.
Ian A. M. Fuller & Hans-Georg Evers (2011). Identifying Corydoradinae Catfish Supplement 1. Ian Fuller Enterprises.
Nijssen H. & Isbrücker I.J.H.: 1976, The South American Plated Catfish Genus Aspidoras, R. von Ihering,1907, with descriptions of nine new species from Brazil (Pisces, Siluriformes, Callichthyidae).
ScotCat Article: The Genus Aspidoras.