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Costa et al. 2022 (3)

Colouration: In specimens above about 30mm SL, the flank and dorsum are light yellow, with rounded dark brown spots and minute dark grey dots irregularly arranged. Venter yellowish white. Headlight yellow, with melanophores scattered over lateral and dorsal surfaces, more concentrated above opercle and interopercle and between nasal barbel and orbit. Nasal barbel grey, maxillary, and rictal barbels white, with minute black dots on the dorsal surface of maxillary barbel. Iris light yellow. Fins yellowish hyaline with minute black dots on the basal portion. In specimens below about 30mm SL, body spots are black and arranged in three longitudinal rows, one along the dorsum midline, one between the anterior lateral midline and ventral portion of the caudal peduncle just anterior to caudal-fin base, and one on the dorsal part of the flank (Costa et al. 2022). Habitat: Trichomycterus altipombensis is only known from the upper Rio Pomba drainage, Rio Paraíba do Sul basin, at about 600 m asl. At the type locality, the Ribeirão Fernades is a fast-flowing stream, with its largest width reaching about 6m, and deepest areas not surpassing about 1m deep. The water is clear and slightly turbid, and the bottom comprises sand and gravel substrate, where all species were found. The original forest vegetation was removed and substituted by cane plantations. (Costa et al. 2022). Diet: Will feed on most aquarium fare such as tablet, frozen and live foods. It is an opportunistic predator that mainly feeds on insects, but also will take small crustaceans and plant material (algae and remains of phanerogams). Etymology: The name altipombensis is an allusion to the occurrence of the new species in the upper section of the Rio Pomba.

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Trichomycteridae

South America: Minas Gerais State: Santa Bárbara do Tigúrio Municipality: upper Rio Pomba, Rio Paraíba do Sul basin, 21°1400600 S 43°3005100 W, about 600m asl; Brazil.

6.0cm. (2½ins)

24-28°c (75-83°f.)

6.0-7.0.

Costa, W.J.E.M.; Mattos, J.L.; Vilardo, P.J.; Amorim, P.F.; Katz, A.M. Perils of Underestimating Species Diversity: Revisiting Systematics of Psammocambeva Catfishes (Siluriformes: Trichomycteridae) from the Rio Paraíba do Sul Basin, South-Eastern Brazil †. Taxonomy 2022. 2, 491-523.