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Centrochir crocodili (Humboldt, 1821)

Image contributors to this species:

Ricardo Alvarez Zamora (1) Sebastian Eduardo Mu (2)

ScotCat Sources:

Other Sources:

Relevant Information:

Centrochir crocodili is monotypic (the only species) in the genus Centrochir of the catfish family Doradidae. Habitat: This species endemic to Colombia and is known from the Lower and Middle Magdalena basin (Maldonado-Ocampo et al. 2008). Its type locality is Colombia, río Magdalena, Nouvelle Granade, between Ponto et Mompoxyenne (Humboldt and Valenciennes 1821, Maldonado-Ocampo et al. 2005). In the Santander Department, it has been found in Ciénaga de Paredes and Caño Peruétano (Castellanos Morales et al. 2011). It occurs at elevations between 5 and 200 m. This species inhabits clear waters in floodplain lakes and creeks where it can usually be found near the bottom. Etymology: The genus name Centrochir: kentron, thorn or spine; cheiros, hand, referring to the unrayed pectoral spines. The specific name crocodili: of a crocodile, referring to its local name in Colombia, pexe que mata el Cayman (fish that kills caiman), referring to its sharp pectoral fins, known to kill caiman (or crocodiles) that attempt to eat it. Remarks: This species is listed as Least Concern because it has a wide distribution, it is frequent and the main threat is not significantly affecting its population (IUCN 2016).

Common Name:

None

Synonyms:

Doras crocodili, Doras longispinis

Family:

Doradidae

Distribution:

South America: Magdalena River basin, Colombia. Type Locality: Magdalena River...Nouvelle-Grenade...between Pinto and Mompox, par les 9º and 9º1/2 de latitude...[&] near the confluent of the Cauca River [Colombia].

Size:

22.5cm. (9ins)

Temp:

22-26°C (71-79°F)

p.H.

6.0-7.5.

Reference:

Ferraris, C.J. Jr., 2007. Checklist of catfishes, recent and fossil (Osteichthyes: Siluriformes), and catalogue of siluriform primary types. Zootaxa 1418:1-628.
Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors. 2023. FishBase. World Wide Web electronic publication. www.fishbase.org, version (06/2023).
Jimenez-Segura, L., Mojica, J. & Alonso, J. C. 2016. Centrochir crocodili. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016.
Sabaj, M.H. and C.J. Ferraris Jr., 2003. Doradidae (Thorny catfishes). p. 456-469. In R.E. Reis, S.O. Kullander and C.J. Ferraris, Jr. (eds.) Checklist of the Freshwater Fishes of South and Central America. Porto Alegre: EDIPUCRS, Brasil.
The ETYFish Project Fish Name Etymology Database © Christopher Scharpf

Family: Doradidae Back to Ident-A-Cat Click on Thumbnails

Centrochir crocodili
Colombia

Centrochir crocodili
Barrancabermeja, Santander, Colombia

Centrochir crocodili
Head view-Barrancabermeja, Santander, Colombia

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