SCOTCAT.COM  

n interesting and pretty looking species from the Auchenipteridae family is the subject of the April 2024 factsheet. It is interesting because of the lack of an adipose fin and the very long body. The colour and markings stand it apart from other members of this family and it is well sought after in the hobby. There are reputedly another two undescribed species in this genus from the Rio Madeira and the Rio Tocantins (Grant. S. 2021).

 Trachelyopterichthys taeniatus

There are only two described species, our factsheet of the month and T. anduzei Ferraris & Fernandez, 1987 (Upper Orinoco River basin, Venezuela). This other species can not be mixed up with T. taeniatus as it sports spots and no lateral lines and it is much rarer.

Trachelyopterichthys taeniatus - dorsal view

From the paper by Ferraris & Fernandez. 1987. The Auchenipterid catfish genus Trachelyopterichthys was created by Bleeker in 1862 to accommodate Kner's (1858) Trachelyopterichthys taeniatus, a species then known only from its holotype. Trachelyopterichthys taeniatus remains a poorly known fish, being represented by only a handful of specimens in museums. Little has been written about this species due to the dearth of material available for anatomical studies.

Recent collecting (1987) in the Rio Orinoco system of Venezuela has uncovered another species of this genus, again from a unique specimen.Studies associated with the description of this new species and the recent importation of specimens of T. taeniatus into the U.S. aquarium fish trade led to the discovery of previously unknown sexually dimorphic characters in Trachelyopterichthys. (Ferraris & Fernandez, 1987).

Striped Woodcat

Trachelyopterus taeniatus

Auchenipterinae

South America: Upper Amazon River basin. Type locality: Rio Guaporé, Brazil.

18.0cm. (7¼ins)

20-25°c (67-77°f.)

Adipose fin absent, 9-16 pelvic fin branched rays; 4 branched dorsal fin rays; body with 2 or 3 longitudinal stripes. The lateral line has a row of very small spots. The pectoral spine is heavily ornamented, with an irregular patch of small rounded serrae proximally on its ventral surface, and an accessory row of pointed serrae both dorsal and ventral to the anterior edge of the spine. In larger individuals, serrae are more prominent and more widely distributed on the dorsal and ventral surfaces.

Relatively peaceful but will eat smaller fish when larger. Provide floating plants for seclusion as this is a nocturnal species. Provide caves/pipes for hiding out during the daylight hours.

They lay their eggs in previously cleaned caves or flat surfaces.

The males first rays of the anal fin are modified, longer and thicker than those immediately posterior. The urogenital pore is located at the distal tip of the anterior margin of the anal fin in contrast to the enlarged pore anterior to the anal fin base in females. In mature males the dorsal and pectoral fins are longer and arched at the tip.

Feeds on small fishes and insect larvae. In the aquarium they can be fed frozen, tablet and flake foods.

Adipose fin: Fleshy finlike projection without rays, behind the rayed dorsal fin.
Anal fin: The median, unpaired, ventrally located fin that lies behind the anus, usually on the posterior half of the fish.
Caudal peduncle: The narrow part of a fish's body to which the caudal or tail fin is attached.
Dorsal fin: The primary rayed fin(s) on top of the body.
Lateral line: A sensory line, along the sides of the body.
Pectoral fin: The paired fins just behind the head.
Pelvic fin: The paired fins, between the pectorals and the anal fins. (also referred to as ventrals).
Serrae: Sawlike part or organ.

Trachelyopterichthys: from the Greek, trachelos, meaning neck, pteron, meaning fin and ichthys, meaning fish; in reference to the long cranial shield, giving the appearance that the dorsal fin starts in the region of the neck area.
taeniatus: striped; banded.

Photo Credits

© Allan James @
Kmusser - Own work using Digital Chart of the World and GTOPO data.