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Tatia jaracatia fits all given characters for the genus stated by Sarmento-Soares & Martins-Pinheiro (2008), but exhibits a peculiar trunk colour pattern composed of conspicuous, irregular, pale blotches over a dark background. Description: Dorsal spines (total): 1; Dorsal soft rays (total): 5; Anal soft rays: 9; Vertebrae: 31 - 32. The presence of large pale blotches over a dark brown base colouration separates this species from its congeners, except Tatia aulopygia, Tatia brunnea, Tatia dunni, Tatia galaxias, Tatia intermedia , and Tatia neivai. Differs from these species by having the combination of the following characters: anal fin-fin rays of mature males uniformly decreasing in size from third unbranched ray; caudal fin uniformly dark brown or with several dark brown chromatophores irregularly widespread, forming roundish blotches, and rarely forming stripes; caudal fin in juvenile individuals uniformly dark brown ; brown caudal-fin dots arranged as stripes (in some specimens), which might be confused with pale striae to roundish dots on caudal fins of some Tatia neivai; humeral process long, reaching or surpassing the vertical line through origin of dorsal fin; 31 or 32 post-Weberian vertebrae and 9 or 10 ribs; and 3-5 hemal spines with thicker distal portion. Aquarium Care: As with most members of this family they are very secretive and will stay hidden for most of  the day. Dim lighting will see them come out for food which they eat with gutso. Will have no  problem with most co-habitants but will eat small fish/fry in the aquarium. 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: The specific name, jaracatia, is named for its type locality, Rio Jaracatiá, lower Rio Iguaçu basin. Jaracatiá is an indigenous name given to a fructiferous tree common in the region.

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Auchenipteridae

South America: Lower rio Iguaçu basin, upstream from the Iguaçu falls, southern Brazil.

6.5cm. (2½ins)

22-25°c (71-77°f.)

6.0-7.0.

Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors. 2017. FishBase. World Wide Web electronic publication. www.fishbase.org, ( 10/2017 ).
Instituto Chico Mendes de Conservação da Biodiversidade (ICMBio). 2022. Tatia jaracatia. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2022.
Pavanelli, C.S. and A.G. Bifi, 2009. A new Tatia (Ostariophysi: Siluriformes: Auchenipteridae) from the rio Iguaçu basin, Paraná State, Brazil. Neotrop. Ichthyol. 7(2):199-204.