SCOTCAT.COM  

Frants Lehmann (1 stamp) Mark Henry Sabaj (1) Elke Kinlechner (2) Ivan Mikolj (1) Robin Warne (2) Johnny Jensen's Photographic Library (1) Enrico Richter (1) Daniel Konn-Vetterlein (1)

This genus was previously placed in its own family of Ageneiosidae and you can still find some publications that still follow this line. Description: Anal soft rays: 34 - 40; Vertebrae: 46 - 51. Body naked and elongated. Head is pointed and depressed at the top. Mouth is big and wide. The lateral eyes are situated along the level of the mouth, ensuring a vision above and below. Exhibits sexual dimorphism, like A. dentatus. The first ray of the dorsal fin is very long and has pointed spines. Habitat: Prefers rivers in overgrown backwaters where the current is not too strong. Diet: Feeds on fish and crustaceans. Its flesh is esteemed for its very fine flavour. Is reported to be nocturnal. Frequently captured with nets, the males are difficult to release from the nets because of its strong dorsal spine bordered with denticles. Breeding: During reproduction, the mandibular barbels and dorsal spine of the male change, and a copulatory organ appears at the anterior level of the anal fin. Fertilisation is internal, the female being capable of keeping the spermatozoids inserted in the epithelium of her genital tract. Aquarium Care: As per this genera they will be fine as juveniles, but as they mature they become predatory so would need to be kept with fish that are not too small. A large tank would be needed with plenty of swimming space. Remarks: The species Ageneiosus marmoratus is now considered a junior synonym of A. inermis (Ribeiro, F. R. V. et. al 2017).

Bottlenose catfish

Silurus inermis, Ageneiosus armatus, Ageniosus brevifilis, Ageneiosus brevifilis, Hypothalmus dawalla,  Ageneiosus dawalla, Davalla schomburgkii, Ageneiosus axillaris, Ageneiosus sebae, Ageneiosus therezinae, Ageneiosus therezine, Ageneiosus ogilviei, Ageneiosus gabardinii, Ageneiosus marmoratus.

Auchenipteridae

South America: Widely distributed in South America, east of the Andes. Type locality: Surínam.

50.0cm. (20ins)

22-24°c (71-75°f.)

6.5-7.5.

Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors. 2009.FishBase. World Wide Web electronic publication. www.fishbase.org, version (11/2011).
Boujard, T., M. Pascal, F.J. Meunier and P.-Y. Le Bail 1997 Poissons de Guyane. Guide écologique de l'Approuague et de la réserve des Nouragues. Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, Paris, 219 p.
Le Bail, P.-Y., P. Keith and P. Planquette 2000 Atlas des poissons d'eau douce de Guyane (tome 2, fascicule II). Publications scientifiques du Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle, Paris:307 p.
Ferraris, C.J. Jr., 2007. Checklist of catfishes, recent and fossil (Osteichthyes: Siluriformes), and catalogue of siluriform primary types. Zootaxa 1418:1-628.
Ribeiro, F. R. V., L. H. Rapp Py-Daniel and S. J. Walsh 2017 (9 Feb.) Taxonomic revision of the South American catfish genus Ageneiosus (Siluriformes: Auchenipteridae) with the description of four new species. Journal of Fish Biology.
Max Pedley. Pers comm. 2020.