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Rhinelepis
aspera Spix & Agassiz, 1829 |
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Image
contributors to this species: |
| Robin Warne
(1) |
ScotCat
Sources: |
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Other
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Relevant Information: |
The black armored catfish Rhinelepsis
aspera Agassiz, 1829 (‘cascudo-preto’) is an
important and currently rare commercial fish of the São
Francisco River, although still found in large numbers in its
main tributary, the Paracatu River. Its flesh is firm, tasty and
practically devoid of bones and fat. It is caught with gill nets.
Among the Loricariidae of the São Francisco river basin,
R. aspera is the one that reaches the largest size, and
can exceed 4 kg of body weight. R. aspera can be found
throughout the basin of the São Francisco and Paraná
rivers, with its typical location in the São Francisco
river (Fowler, 1954). The Rhinelepis
group is unique among Loricariids for possessing a round (normal)
iris versus a bilobed iris (although it is often hard to see the
flap in bilobed, preserved fishes). The species has also thick
plates and lacks an adipose fin. Aquarium
Care: Grows rather large and would need a large tank
to accommodate it. Diet: Omnivore: Feed veg,
frozen foods and also tablet and pellet food. Breeding:
May not be possible as this genera migrate to spawn, and scatter
there eggs with no parental protection. |
Common
Name: |
Black armored catfish |
Synonyms: |
None |
Family: |
Loricariidae
ycipitidae |
Distribution: |
Brazil:
São Francisco and upper Paraná River basins. Type
locality: in flumine S. Francisci, Brazil. |
Size:
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30cm. (12ins) |
Temp: |
23-27°c
(73-81°f.) |
p.H. |
6.0-7.0. |
Reference: |
Yoshimi Sato, Nelsy Fenerich-Verani,
José Roberto Verani, Hugo Pereira Godinho, Edson Vieira
Sampaio; Induced Reproduction and Reproductive Characteristics
of Rhinelepis aspera Agassiz, 1829 (Osteichthyes: Siluriformes,
Loricariidae). Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University
of Minas Gerais.
Armbruster, J.W., 1998.
Phylogenetic relationships of the suckermouth armored catfishes
of the Rhinelepis group (Loricariidae: Hypostominae). Copeia 1998(3):620-636
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