Habitat: Found
in the in the sand of shallow rivers and creeks; parasitic,
entering gill chambers of larger catfishes; also known
for entering, probably by mistake, the ureta of mammals
urinating under water. Aquarium Care:
Seldem kept in the Aquarium due to their plain appearance
and there preference to hide. Needs a substrate of
fine gravel or mulm. Diet: Daphnia
and mosquito larvae. Remarks:
This species is more elongated than T.
brevis and
with larger eyes.
Common
Name:
Venezuelan
parasitic catfish
Synonyms:
None
Family:
Trichomycteridae
Distribution:
South America:Orinoco River basin, Venezuela. Type
locality: Río Negro, below the mouth
of the Río Yasa, Maracaibo basin, Venezuela.
Size:
3.0cm. (1¼ins)
Temp:
25-28°c (77-83°f.)
p.H.
6.0-7.0.
Reference:
Ferraris, C.J. Jr.,
2007. Checklist of catfishes, recent and fossil (Osteichthyes:
Siluriformes), and catalogue of siluriform primary
types. Zootaxa 1418:1-628. Evers, H.-G. & I.Seidel: Mergus,
Baensch Catfish Atlas Volume 1, 1st English edn.,
2005. Pp.944.
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