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Hemiodontichthys acipenserinus (Kner, 1853)

Image contributors to this species:

Robin Warne (1) Peru Aquarium Group (1) Johnny Jensen's Photographic Library (3)

ScotCat Sources:

Other Sources:

Relevant Information:

Habitat: Lives on sandy bottom where it feeds on worms and micro-crustaceans. Mature males develop a huge labial veil and teeth with spoon-shaped crow (versus pointed ones in females and juveniles). Unlike most Loricariidae, they don't have well developed odontodes on the snout and pectoral fins. Aquarium Care: It is stated that this species grows smaller in the confines of an aquarium. Provide a sand substrate. Best to have this species as the only bottom dweller as they will find it difficult to compete for food with other fish Keep the aquarium clean as they are prone to bacterial infections if the tank is not well looked after. Reproduction: During reproduction, the males bear a cluster of eggs fixed to their lips, which they provide with ventilation during movement. About one week after hatching, the alevins leave their parent's protection. Etymology: The specific name acipenserinus: –inus (L.), adjectival suffix: Acipenser, sturgeon genus, i.e., sturgeon-like, referring to its superficial resemblance to sturgeons, particularly its long and narrow snout.

Common Name:

Knob nosed Whiptail Catfish

Synonyms:

Hemiodon acipenserinus

Family:

Loricariidae

Distribution:

South America: Amazon, Essequibo, Oyapock, and Paraguay River basins . Type locality: Rio Guaporé, Matogrosso (Juquia), Brazil.

Size:

13.5cm. (5¼ins)

Temp:

24-28°c (75-83°f.)

p.H.

6.0-7.0.

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 (LC), (IUCN 2023).

Reference:

Evers, H.-G. & I.Seidel: Mergus, Baensch Catfish Atlas Volume 1, 1st English edn., 2005. Pp.944.
Ferraris, C.J. Jr., 2007. Checklist of catfishes, recent and fossil (Osteichthyes: Siluriformes), and catalogue of siluriform primary types. Zootaxa 1418:1-628.
Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors. 2009. FishBase. World Wide Web electronic publication. www.fishbase.org, version (06/2012).
Le Bail, P.-Y., P. Keith and P. Planquette 2000 Atlas des poissons d'eau douce de Guyane (tome 2, fascicule II). Publications scientifiques du Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle, Paris:307 p.
Salvador, G.N. 2023. Hemiodontichthys acipenserinus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2023.
The ETYFish Project Fish Name Etymology Database © Christopher Scharpf.

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

Hemiodontichthys acipenserinus

Hemiodontichthys acipenserinus
Head view

Hemiodontichthys acipenserinus

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