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Mark Henry Sabaj (2)

Description: Diagnosed among congeners by having the distal tip of the anterior branched dorsal-fin rays and membranes darkened (vs. distal tip of anterior branched dorsal-fin rays and membranes pale). Hassar affinis is distinguished from H. orestis and H. wilderi by having two rounded diverticula restricted to each side of anterior chamber of gas bladder (rarely one extra pair on posterior chambers) (vs. many well-branched diverticula along margins of entire gas bladder); and gas bladder rounded posteriorly (vs. gas bladder triangular posteriorly, each posterior chamber extended into a short terminal diverticulum sharing medial septum with its pair). Hassar affinis is further distinguished from H. orestis by having 12th through 17th, modally 13th, midlateral scute as the anteriormost with median thorn (vs. 1st through 8th, modally 3rd), 10th midlateral scute 3.1-5.1%, mean 4.1%, of relative body depth (vs. 6.2-18.0%, mean 12.9%, of relative body depth), and tip of upper caudal-fin lobe not darkened (vs. usually darkened). Hassar affinis is distinguished from H. gabiru by having lateral diverticula on gas bladder rounded (rarely branched in large specimens) (vs. lateral diverticula finger-like, weakly-branched in large specimens). Aquarium Care: For a large species it is non aggressive and can be kept with smaller species such as small characins, dwarf cichlids, small labyrinth species and also other small catfish such as Corydoras and the smaller members of the Loracariids. Provide a soft substrate such as fine sand as they like to sift through this for edibles and a sharp substrate could cause damage to its fine feathered barbels. Lone individuals will not do well in an aquarium setup so a group of three or more will be more beneficial to the long term health of this species. A planted aquarium is a must as they like to hide in the roots more so than having a rock or wood setup. Diet: Tablet foods, small live and frozen foods such as worms and Daphnia.

None

Oxydoras affinis, Hassar woodi, Hassar iheringi

Doradidae

South America: Parnaíba River basin, Brazil. Type locality: Rio Parnahyba, Therezina, Piauhy [Brazil].

20.0cm. (8ins)

22-28°C (71-83°F)

6.0-7.5.

Birindelli, J.O., D.F. Fayal and W.B. Wosiacki, 2011. Taxonomic revision of thorny catfish genus Hassar (Siluriformes: Doradidae). Neotrop. Ichthyol. 9(3):515-542.
Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors. 2018. FishBase. World Wide Web electronic publication. www.fishbase.org, ( 06/2018 ).
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.
Ferraris, C.J. Jr., 2007. Checklist of catfishes, recent and fossil (Osteichthyes: Siluriformes), and catalogue of siluriform primary types. Zootaxa 1418:1-628.