Formerly had the CW number
of CW031. Described from tributaries of the lower
course of río Putumayo in Peru, close to the
border with Brazil and Colombia. Related to Corydoras
reynoldsi,
C.
weitzmani,C.
panda and
C.
tukano,
all of which share a pattern composed of uniform light
ground colour on body, dark bar (“mask”)
across orbit, and one or two large rounded blotches
midlaterally on trunk. Description:
C. ortegai is easily distinguished from these
species, except C. panda, mainly by the absence
of a midlateral trunk blotch at the dorsal-fin level,
and the rounded shape of the midlateral trunk blotch
at the adipose-fin level. It also differs from C.
panda by its greater number of lateral body plates,
lack of dorsal-fin blotch, scattered chromatophores
surrounding midregion of cleithrum, caudal fin with
series of small blotches restricted to rays, slenderer
body, and narrower intercleithral area. C. ortegai
belongs to a putatively monophyletic assemblage of
Corydoras that occurs mainly in the Western
Amazon basin, C. tukano excepted. Habitat:
The occurrence of C. tukano in the Rio Tiquié
(upper Negro basin) and its putative sister species,
C. ortegai, in the western Amazon, together
with similar distribution patterns shared by other
groups of fishes, suggest a biogeographic relationship
between these areas. Occurs mainly in lotic habitats
characterised by muddy-brown colour, soft bottom of
clay and sand where it is relatively abundant. Lineage:
Placed in Lineage 6 which has always been classified
as Corydoras (Lacépède, 1803)
so a new genus would need to be described and a new
type species when a new revision is carried out.
Aquarium Care: This is akin to most of this
genus, very peaceful, and would be best housed with
small to medium tank mates such as Tetras, Rasboras
and Danios or in a species tank for breeding purposes.
Diet: A good quality flake food and
tablet food for adults with sporadic feedings of frozen
or live food will keep your Corydoras in
good health.
Common
Name:
Loreto panda, CW031
Synonyms:
None
Family:
Callichthyidae
Distribution:
South America:
Peru, Departamento Loreto, Provincia Maynas, Rio Putumayo
basin, Quebrada Coronel Diaz, tributary to Rio Yaguas.
Size:
Male: 4.0cm. (1½ins).
Female 4.5cm. (1¾ins)
Temp:
23-26°C (73-79°F)
p.H.
6.0-7.2.
Reference:
Alexandrou, Markos
& Taylor, Martin. (2011). Evolution,
ecology and taxonomy of the Corydoradinae revisited.
Britto, M.R., F.C.T. Lima and M.H. Hidalgo
2007 Corydoras ortegai, a new species of
corydoradine catfish from the lower río Putumayo
in Peru (Ostariophysi: Siluriformes: Callichthyidae).
Neotrop. Ichthyol. 5(3):293-300. Ian A. M. Fuller & Hans-Georg Evers
(2011). Identifying Corydoradinae Catfish Supplement
1. Ian Fuller Enterprises. www.corydorasworld.com
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