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his species from the Auchenipteridae family was known for many years as Tatia creutzbergi. It was originally described by Eigenmann & Allen in 1942 as Centromochlus gyrinus based on a single specimen from Iquitos, Peru. Nearly a decade latter, Boeseman (1953) described Centromochlus creutzbergi based on a specimen from Suriname, but without a comparison to Centromochlus gyrinus. Mees in 1974 transferred both species to the genus Tatia, based on similarities in fin ray counts and the shape of the adipose fin. For many years the Amazonian T. gyrina was known only from its holotype. The holotype of T. gyrina is old and has lost its colour. The specimen, however, is a mature male, with a modified anal fin that is similar in appearance to the anal fin of specimens from Suriname identified as T. creutzbergi.

Tatia gyrina

Available field data indicate these catfish typically occur in water with low pH, low conductivity and low level of dissolved oxygen (J. Zuanon & H. Nijssen).

Remarks: In some quarters Tatia creutzbergi (from Suriname) is not viewed as a junior synonym of T. gyrina and is held up as a species in its own right.

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Centromochlus gyrinus, Tatia creutzbergi, Centromochlus creutzbergi

Centromochlinae

South America: Upper and central Amazon, in Peru, Colombia and Brazil. It is also found in rivers of northern Suriname. Type locality: Rio Itaya, Iquitos, Peru (type locality of T. creutzbergi is Djaikreek, Suriname River system, Suriname).

5.0cm (2ins)

21-24c (69-75f)

8-11 anal fin rays; pectoral fin rays 1,4; dorsal and pectoral fin spines with well developed teeth and hooks; upper surface of head and nuchal region covered with bony plates; caudal fin shallowly forked.

Body colouration diagnostic with upper surface of heads and back dull brown and sides longitudinally marbled brown and white, a conspicuous broad blackish longitudinal band on the sides.

Good filtration with a moving surface are recommended to keep the oxygen levels high. Peaceful species that will hide away during the day. Best kept in small groups. Give them small pipes, and they do seem to like to hide in the crevices of bogwood as well. They appear to be happier if they can jam themselves in with the use of their pectoral fins. Community tanks are fine for this species, they come well recommended but don't expect to see them too often.

Internal fertilisation. The female usually place its adhesive eggs on the underside of wood with no broodcare after the event.

In its native habitat they feed on small invertebrates and crustaceans and in the aquarium they will eat anything given such as frozen bloodworm inserted in to their hideaway, catfish tablets, white worm (sparingly) and prawns and shrimp. They do like their food and you can see them shooting out of their hideouts and swimming in a frenzied manner to try and take all for themselves, especially when you feed them their favourite food, frozen bloodworm.

Tatia: In honour of Mr. C. Tate Regan.

Baensch, H.A. and R. Riehl, 1991. Aquarien atlas. Bd. 3. Melle: Mergus, Verlag für Natur-und Heimtierkunde, Germany. 1104 p.
Mol, H.A. Jan, The Freshwater Fishes of Suriname. BRILL, Leiden Boston, 2012. 889 p.
Sarmento-Soares, Luisa Maria; Martins-Pinheiro, Ronaldo Fernando A systematic revision of  Tatia (Siluriformes: Auchenipteridae: Centromochlinae) Neotropical Ichthyology, 6(3):495- 542, 2008.

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© Ian Fuller @