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Description: Was known until recently (2011) as Doras punctatus until a new paper by Birindelli, JLO and MH Sabaj Pérez (2011) asigned a new genera, Ossancora to this species. Ossancora was proposed to include three previously named species O. eigenmanni, O. fimbriata plus one new species in O. asterophysa. The four species are distinguished from each other by the branching on the maxillary and mandibular barbels, the morphologies of the swimbladder and bony plates in front of the dorsal fin, and the number of teeth on the upper and lower jaws. Can sometimes be seen, and sold as Opsodoras stuebelii, which has a longer snout and lacks the body spots and also grows larger. It has been misidentified, especially in the mid 1980s in the hobby when catfish were just beginning to get a fan base in the U. K. Aquarium Care: Very peaceful addition to a community aquarium. This is another doradid that prefers safety in numbers assuming that you can purchase them. Recommended that you keep at least 4 specimens together. Good water quality is required. Diet: Finely shredded shrimp and bloodworm. Etymology: The specific name punctata: Latin for spotted, presumably referring to dark dots conspicuously evident on head and body of syntypes.

Feather Barbels Catfish

None

Doradidae

South America: Amazon River and Paraná-Paraguay River drainages.

11.0cm. (4¼ins)

22-25°C (71-77°F)

6.0-7.0.

Birindelli, JLO and MH Sabaj Pérez (2011) Ossancora, new genus of thorny catfish (Teleostei: Siluriformes: Doradidae) with description of one new species. Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia 161, pp. 117–152.
Conservación Internacional; seris de Guías Tropicales De Campo. Pecos del medio Amazonas Región de Leticia. 546 p.
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.
Salvador, G.N. 2023. Ossancora punctata. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2023.
Sands, David; Back to Nature Guide to Catfishes. 1996. p. 60-61. 128 p.
ScotCat Article: The Family Doradidae or "Talking Catfishes"
The ETYFish Project Fish Name Etymology Database © Christopher Scharpf.