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Tenellus leporhinus (Eigenmann, 1912)

Image contributors to this species:

Julian Dignall (1) Chris Ralph (1) Peru Aquarium Group (2) Johnny Jensen's Photographic Library (1) Ivor Hilton (1) Aqualife (1)

ScotCat Sources:

Other Sources:

Relevant Information:

Tenellus is a new genera, described by Birindelli (2014) to include, Nemadoras trimaculatus, N. leporhinus, N. ternetzi and the new species N. christinae all of course now in the Tenellus genera. Description: The snout is constricted, narrowly compressed (gape very small); dorsal profile concave between tip of snout and posterior nares. Aquarium Care: Best kept in groups as they will not do well singularly. Avoid boisterous or aggressive tankmates as this is a shy species that will hide out during the day and appear for food at night under darkness. Provide a dimly lit tank with floating plants. This is not an easy species to keep so you would need to keep up water changes and good aquarium husbandry. Diet: Tubifex, Daphnia, Cyclops. Once settled in they will take frozen foods, flake and tablet foods. Etymology: The specific name leporhinus: lepo-, from lepis (L.), hare or rabbit; rhinós (Gr.), genitive of rhís, nose, referring to its “peculiar leporine snout”. Remarks: In some online publications the synonym of Nemadoras leporhinus is still being used for this species.

Common Name:

Mouse catfish

Synonyms:

Hemidoras leporhinus, Opsodoras leporhinus, Nemadoras leporhinus

Family:

Doradidae

Distribution:

South America: Orinoco, Branco and Essequibo River basin.

Size:

10.0cm. (4ins)

Temp:

22-25°C (72-77°F)

p.H.

6.5-7.0.

IUCN Red List

Despite the little information available on this species, it has a wide range and no apparent threats. Therefore, it is assessed as Least Concern (IUCN 2023).

Reference:

Baensch, H.A. and R. Riehl 1985 Aquarien atlas. Band 2. Mergus, Verlag für Natur- und Heimtierkunde GmbH, Melle, Germany. 1216 p.
Birindelli, J. L. O. 2014 (16 Sept.) Phylogenetic relationships of the South American Doradoidea (Ostariophysi: Siluriformes). Neotropical Ichthyology v. 12 (no. 3): 451-563 [1-102].
Salvador, G.N. 2023. Tenellus leporhinus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2023.
ScotCat Factsheet no. 191. May 2012.
The ETYFish Project Fish Name Etymology Database © Christopher Scharpf.

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

Tenellus leporhinus

Tenellus leporhinus

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