These are sometimes sold or
seen as I.
metae but that
species has a more rounded caudal fin (albeit that
us not always a reliable indicator as the fin can
often be damaged) and also has one more pectoral fin
ray (I + 6). I. guayaberensis (Dahl, 1960)
also has a similar pattern but that species has even
more pectoral fin rays (I + 8). Both I. metae
and I. guayaberensis come from further north,
in the Orinoco system in Colombia. (Grant, S). Habitat:
Lives mainly in little
forest creeks with notable current and a sandy-rocky
substrate. Aquarium Care: Even although
this species is termed, along with other members of
this family, as parasitic catfishes it is well behaved
in the aquarium but is seldom seen until feeding time.
Provide caves/pipes for this species. Diet:
It is not known whether it feeds on flesh or blood
of living animals or it lives on carrion. Opercle
hooks enable it to cling to and to dig little tunnels
into its prey's flesh.
Common
Name:
Candiru
Synonyms:
Trichomycterus amazonicus
Family:
Trichomycteridae
Distribution:
South America:Amazon River basin, Brazil, and rivers of
French Guiana. Type locality: Type
locality: Cudajas [Brazil].
Size:
7.5cm. (3ins)
Temp:
25-28°c (77-83°f.)
p.H.
6.0-7.0.
Reference:
Evers, H.-G. &
I.Seidel: Mergus,
Baensch Catfish Atlas Volume 1, 1st English edn.,
2005. Pp.944. de Pínna, M.C.C. and W. Wosiacki,
2003. Trichomycteridae (pencil or parasitic catfishes).
p. 270-290. In R.E. Reis, S.O. Kullander and C.J.
Ferraris, Jr. (eds.) Checklist of the Freshwater Fishes
of South and Central America. Porto
Alegre: EDIPUCRS, Brasil. ScotCat Factsheet:
March 2013. Grant, S; Ituglanis
amazonicus Ferraris, C.J. Jr.,
2007. Checklist of catfishes, recent and fossil (Osteichthyes:
Siluriformes), and catalogue of siluriform primary
types. Zootaxa 1418:1-628.
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