SCOTCAT.COM  

Allan James (1) Zhou Hang (2) Peru Aquarium Group (1) Adrian Taylor (4)

Formerly Tridensisilis brevis but in the paper by Datovo A., et al. 2023 they examined specimens collected near the type-locality of T. brevis (ZUEC 15118) that fitted the diagnostic characters originally reported for the species. These specimens clearly belong to Tridentopsis. Therefore, all evidence indicate that T. brevis is a Tridentopsis and, consequently, Tridensimilis is a monotypic genus containing only T. venezuelae (Datovo A., et al 2023). 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 urethra 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. Etymology: Greek, tres tria = three + Latin, dens = teeth. –opsis, appearance, referring to similarity to the closely related Tridens. The specific name of brevis: short, referring to short and deep body, shorter than Tridens melanops, its presumed congener at the time.

Dwarf Parasitic Catfish, Glass Candiru, Glass Parasitic Catfish

Tridens brevis, Tridensimilis brevis

Trichomycteridae

South America: Brazil: Amazon River basin. Type locality: Tabatinga (Brazil).

3.0cm. (1¼ins)

21-28°c (69-83°f.)

6.0-7.0.

Datovo A, Ochoa L, Vita L, Presti P, Ohara WM, de Pinna MCC. A new genus and species of miniature tridentine catfish from the Amazon basin (Siluriformes: Trichomycteridae). Neotrop Ichthyol. 2023; 21(3).
Ferraris, C.J. Jr., 2007. Checklist of catfishes, recent and fossil (Osteichthyes: Siluriformes), and catalogue of siluriform primary types. Zootaxa 1418:1-628.
Fish in the News.
Riehl, R. and H.A. Baensch 1996 Aquarien Atlas, Band 1.10th edition. Mergus Verlag GmBH, Melle, Germany. 992 p.