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Ituglanis laticeps (Kner 1863)

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Description: Ituglanis laticeps is distinguished from other species ocurring in western Ecuador by its elongate body shape and having a body is that is uniformly covered by very numerous close-set light brown spots. Teeth are conical only in young specimens, otherwise teeth are incisiform (Glodek, 1978). Habitat: This species is common along the Pacific slope of Ecuador from Esmeraldas to Huaquillas and there are many references for its occurrence in the area. It lives in streams with clear, fast-running water, that have rocks or gravel on the bottom. Often it occurs in shallow waters less than 30cm in depth (Barriga, 1989). Colouration: Glodek (1978) indicates that dark brown median stripes are absent although smaller individuals collected by Aguirre and collaborators had a mix of stripes and spots suggesting that colour may change during ontongey (development and maturation). 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. Etymology: The specific name laticeps: latus (L.) wide; –ceps (Neo-Latin), headed, referring to its very depressed, almost quadrilateral, head.

Common Name:

None

Synonyms:

Trichomycterus laticeps

Family:

Trichomycteridae

Distribution:

South America: Ecuador. Type locality: Western slopes of the Andes in the state of Ecuador.

Size:

9.0cm. (3½ins)

Temp:

25-28°c (77-83°f.)

p.H.

6.0-7.0.

IUCN Red List

Ituglanis laticeps occurs in the Guayas and Santa Rosa River drainages on the Pacific slope of western Ecuador. Total population size and population trend are unknown. However, it appears locally common. Declines in habitat quality are inferred based on the persistence of several threats. However, the direct scope of existing threats are unknown, and there is currently no indication of major, range-wide population decline. Considering a relatively broad distribution, common occurrence, and lack of documentation of major impacts, I. laticeps is assessed as Least Concern, (IUCN 2021).

Reference:

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.
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. 2021. FishBase. World Wide Web electronic publication. www.fishbase.org, version (05/2021).
Jimenez-Prado, P., Velasquez, M., Chocano, L. & Lyons, T.J. 2021. Ituglanis laticeps. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2021.
Laaz, Enrique; Windsor, Aquirre. Freshwater Fishes of Western Ecuador. (05/2021).
The ETYFish Project Fish Name Etymology Database © Christopher Scharpf.

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

Ituglanis laticeps

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