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Steven Grant (2)

Description: Similar to Acanthodoras cataphractus but is rarer in aquarium imports. The main differences are the lateral body plates of the caudal peduncle in A. cataphractus tend to meet above and below (except the last one), whereas in A. cataphractus the last four or five pairs are separated. A. spinosissimus also has a broader and spinier humeral process. and A. cataphractus also tends to be a more slimmer fish. Aquarium Care: No problem inhabitants of a medium to large community aquarium. Provide plenty of hiding places for this species as they are crepuscular catfishes and will very rarely venture out in daylight or bright light. Their fins can inflict a nasty wound if you handle them the wrong way as they can clamp their pectoral fins around the fingers. They can omit croaking sounds, hence the common name, which is applied by them rotating their pectoral spines in their sockets. Diet: Sinking tablet food, worm foods and most aquarium fare. Etymology: The specific name spinosissimus: Latin for very spiny or thorny, presumably referring to “short sharp” spines on humeral process, “a series of which near the lower margin, is enlarged”.

Chocolate talking catfish

Doras brunnescens, Doras spinosissimus

Doradidae

South America: Amazon and Essequibo River basins. Type locality: Upper Essequibo [Guyana].

15.0cm. (6ins)

22-26°C (71-79°F)

6.5-7.2.

Burgess, W.E. 1989 An atlas of freshwater and marine catfishes. A preliminary survey of the Siluriformes. T.F.H. Publications, Inc., Neptune City, New Jersey (USA). 784 p.
Ferraris, C.J. Jr., 2007. Checklist of catfishes, recent and fossil (Osteichthyes: Siluriformes), and catalogue of siluriform primary types. Zootaxa 1418:1-628.
Salvador, G.N. 2023. Acanthodoras spinosissimus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2023.
The ETYFish Project Fish Name Etymology Database © Christopher Scharpf.