Description:
Dorsal spines (total): 1; Dorsal soft rays (total):
4 - 5; Anal soft rays: 9 - 10; Vertebrae: 35. Can
be diagnosed by the unique combination of characters:
nasal ossified with narrow medial flanges partially
sutured to lateral margin of mesethmoid; anal fin
rays iii, 6-7; modified anal fin with short tip in
mature males; first unbranched anal-fin ray with segments
fused, last branched ray normally developed, not reduced;
ribs 10; and vertebrae 35. Colouration:
Differs further by the following colouration details:
contour of mouth dark, same colour as head; posterior
border of nuchal shield usually dark; pectoral-fin
spine usually dark brown; body with irregular blotches
or stripes; presence of faint stripes or blotches
in large specimens ; and caudal fin dark with whitish
blotches. Some T. dunni, from the Peruvian
Amazon, have a dark brown body and mottled anal fin
(INHS 43890). Large specimens from the Purus river,
in central Amazonia, usually have a completely dark
body (INPA 17182) or a lightly spotted colouration
(INPA 17184). Distinguished from Tatia
intermedia by
having preanal length 70.0-75.0% SL, vs. 65.0-69.4%
SL and interorbital distance 54.1-59.4% HL, vs. 60.1-63.6
HL. A iii,6-7; V i5. Post-Weberian vertebrae. Aquarium
Care: As with per this genera, give them
small pipes, and they also seem to like to hide in
the crevices of bogwood as well. They appear to be
happier if they can jam themselves in with the use
of their pectoral fins. Community tanks are fine for
this species although you may find that they will
predate on fry from other species, but apart from
that they come well recommended but don't expect to
see them too often. Diet: In its
native habitat they feed on small invertebrates and
crustaceans and in the aquarium they will eat anything
given such as frozen bloodworm inserted in to their
hideaway, catfish tablets, white worm (sparingly)
and prawns and shrimp. They do like their food and
you can see them shooting out of their hideouts and
swimming in a frenzied manner to try and take all
for themselves, especially when you feed them their
favourite food, frozen bloodworm. Etymology:
dunni: in honour of Emmett Reid Dunn (1894-1956),
“in appreciation of his studies on Colombian
herpetology”.
Common
Name:
None
Synonyms:
Centromochlus dunni
Family:
Auchenipteridae
Distribution:
Soth America:Upper Amazon in Ecuador and Colombia; central
Amazon in Brazil; Caquetá River drainage in
Colombia. Type locality:Morelia, Río Caquetá drainage,
Colombia.
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