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Cheirocerus goeldii (Steindachner, 1908)

Image contributors to this species:

Karsten Schönherr (1)

ScotCat Sources:

Other Sources:

Relevant Information:

Description: The Pimelodid catfish genus Cheirocerus Eigenmann is redefined on the basis of its specialised lips, premaxilla and swim bladder. Sovichthys Schultz is synonymized with Cheirocerus. A revision of Cheirocerus reveals that C. leptus (Eigenmann and Pearson) is a synomym of C. goeldii (Steindachner, 1908). The three species of Cheirocerus can be readily distinguished on the basis of total number of gill rakers on the first arch: 17-21 in C. eques, 23-27 in C. goeldii and 30-33 in C. abuelo. Colour pattern, form of the occipital and other differences also help to distinguish the species. Aquarium Care: Not a lot of information is forthcoming for this genus but they are nocturnal and a mid sized pim with sizes ranging from 15-20 cm. Diet: Mostly consists of benthic invertebrates, with chironomid larvae being a dominant component, but also including ostracods and mayfly nymphs. Etymology: The specific name goeldii: Patronym not identified but almost certainly in honour of Swiss-Brazilian zoologist Émil (or Emílio) Goeldi (1859–1917), Director of the Museo Paraense and author of numerous works on the natural history of Brazil (from where this catfish was described).

Common Name:

None

Synonyms:

Pimelodina goeldii, Pimelodus leptus

Family:

Pimelodidae

Distribution:

South America: Brazil, Ecuador, Colombia and Peru. Type locality: Rio Purus [Brazil].

Size:

15.0cm (6ins)

Temp:

22-27°C (71-81°F)

p.H.

6.5-7.5.

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:

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. 2025. FishBase. World Wide Web electronic publication. www.fishbase.org, ( 04/2025 ).
Salvador, G.N. 2023. Cheirocerus goeldii. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2023.
Stewart, D.J and M.J. Pavlik, 1985. Revision of Cheirocerus (Pisces: Pimelodidae) from tropical freshwaters of South America. Copeia 1985(2):356-367.
The ETYFish Project Fish Name Etymology Database © Christopher Scharpf.

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

Cheirocerus goeldii

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