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Rupert Collins (2)

Description: Trachelyichthys gaiophanes differs from all congeners, except T. epachrus, by the uniform brown colouration of the body (vs. light brown ground colour with darker brown to black irregular spots on the body); and a lateroventrally expanded posterior nuchal plate (vs. posterior nuchal plate without any lateroventral expansion); and from all congeners, except by T. displicatus, by the possession of four free pterygiophores supporting the dorsal-fin soft rays (vs. three free pterygiophores).The new species further differs from T. decaradiatus, T. exilis, and T. varii, by having dorsal procurrent caudal-fin rays reaching anteriorly to the neural spine of the sixth vertebra anterior to the caudal complex centrum (vs. dorsal procurrent rays reaching anteriorly to the fourth vertebra anterior to the caudal complex centrum).Trachelyichthys gaiophanes is further distinguished from T. epachrus by having 37–41 total anal-fin rays (vs. 42–45) and a narrower body (width at antero-lateral cleithrum 20.6–23.5 vs. 24.1–25.2% SL). Trachelyichthys gaiophanes differs from T. displicatus by having a shorter posterior process of the cleithrum that extends slightly past the mid-length of the adpressed pectoral-fin spine (vs. long posterior process of cleithrum reaching almost the length of the pectoral-fin spine); and by having a shorter posterior process of the coracoid reaching the end of the pectoral-fin base (vs. long posterior process of coracoid, distinctly surpassing the end of pectoral-fin base or extending approximately to one-third of the pectoral-fin spine length). The new species further differs from T. epachrus by having the snout tip short and abruptly truncated, with anterior margin of orbit at the limit of the lateral border of snout (vs. snout larger and rounded, its length corresponding to twice the anterior naris diameter), (Calegari, B. B. et al. 2026). Aquarium Care: Keeping this species is not too much of a problem as long as the water is kept clean and not too alkaline with a p.H.of between 6.5 and 7.0. They do like a planted aquarium where they like to hide out during the day. Diet: In the aquarium a good mixture of dry food such as flake and tablet. Worm food such as bloodworm, whiteworm and grindal. Etymology: Trachelyichthys: trachely, referring to close similarity to and relationship with Trachelyopterus; ichthys; fish. The specific name gaiophanes: From the Greek gaiophanes (gaiophanes), earth-coloured, in allusion to the ground colour of the species (Calegari, B. B. et al. 2026).

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Auchenipteridae

South America: Brazil, Amazonas, Santa Isabel do Rio Negro, Paricatuba, lake at bank of Rio Negro, Amazon basin, approx. 00°31’S 65°01’W,

6.5cm (2½ins)

22-25°c (71-77°f.)

6.5-7.0.

Calegari, B. B., Akama, A., Ferraris Jr., C., & Reis, R. E.. (2026). Hidden diversity of the catfish genus Trachelyichthys (Siluriformes: Auchenipteridae): a revisionary study with description of four new species from the Amazon basin. Neotropical Ichthyology, 24(2), e250200.
Fish in the News 2026.