Description:
This is a large genus with over 100 species described.
Trichomycteridae is a monophyletic group composed
of eight subfamilies, 41 genera and approximately
207 species (Ferraris 2007). Seven subfamilies are
demonstrably monophyletic groups, but Trichomycterinae
is the largest and clearly a polyphyletic group of
Trichomycteridae (Wosiacki 2002). The Trichomycterus
genus, touted as not monophyletic (de Pinna 1989),
is the richest and most widely distributed of Trichomycteridae
family, with 113 valid species spread throughout South
and Central America, on both sides of the Andes (de
Pinna and Wosiacki 2003, Ferraris 2007). A considerable
diversity of Trichomycterus species occurs
in the hydrographic basins of South and Southeast
of Brazil. In these regions 34 species (Bockman et
al. 2004) have been described. Diet:
Will feed on most aquarium fare such as tablet, frozen
and live foods. Etymology: The specific
name dispar: Latin for unlike or dissimilar,
referring to its sexual dimorphism, with monochromatic
males and spotted females.
Common
Name:
None
Synonyms:
Pygidium dispar
Family:
Trichomycteridae
Distribution:
South America:Peruvian Andes. Type locality:
Most of the rivers of the Cordillera; I have a specimen
at a height of more than 14,000 feet. M. caught; but
always only on the highlands between the two mountain
ranges and on the eastern slope of the Andes such
as that of the Cordillera, Peru.
Size:
26.0cm.
(10¼ins)
Temp:
16-26°c (59-79°f.)
p.H.
6.0-7.0.
IUCN
Red List
This
species is listed as Least
Concern (LC) because, although there
are threats to the species, they are not expected to
be causing significant declines in its population, (IUCN
2023).
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