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Robin Warne (2) Oliver Lucanus (1)

Habitat: Denticetopsis praecox is described from the Río Baria system at the base of Cerro de la Neblina, southern Venezuela. This species is most similar to C. plumbea (Schultz, 1944), from the Río Orinoco system but has fewer vertebrae, a greater number of branchiostegal rays, and a colour pattern otherwise unknown in the family. Specimens of Denticetopsis praecox were captured in a cobblepebble habitat of black water streams that ranged in pH from 4.3-5.0. Description: Dorsal spines (total): 1; Dorsal soft rays (total): 6; Anal soft rays: 25 - 30; Vertebrae: 39 - 40. Colouration: Readily distinguished from other members of the genus by its colour pattern consisting of a dark brown dorsum, speckled to dark sides, light venter, pale fins and a large dark spot on the basal half of the dorsal fin. Diet: Feeds mostly in their natural habitat on aquatic insects. Remarks: Among the smallest species in the family, maturing between 30-40 mm SL.

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Pseudocetopsis praecox

Cetopsidae

South America: Venezuela; Baria River, Upper Negro River basin. Type locality: Neblina base camp, Río Mawarinuma of the Río Baria drainage, Territorio Federal Amazonas, southern Venezuela, 0º55'N, 66º10'W, elevation 120 m.

5.5cm. (2¼ins)

22-26°c (71-79°f)

5.0-6.5.

Vari, R.P., C.J. Ferraris, Jr. and M.C.C. de Pinna 2005 The neotropical whale catfishes (Siluriformes: Cetopsidae: Cetopsinae), a revisionary study. Neotrop. Ichthyol. 3(2):127-238.
Ferraris, C.J. Jr., 2007. Checklist of catfishes, recent and fossil (Osteichthyes: Siluriformes), and catalogue of siluriform primary types. Zootaxa 1418:1-628.