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Gamero's Woodcat, Penguin Woodcat

None

Auchenipterinae

South America: Venezuela, Apure River basin in Orinoco River drainage. Type locality: Boca del Río Apurito en el Río Apuré, cercade San Fernando de Apuré, Guárico State, Venezuela.

7.0cm. (2¾ins)

25-29°c (77-85°f.) 

6.0-7.5.

The top of the head is hard, reticulated or pitted, and the posterior margin of the occipital is bordered with a deep groove. The maxillary barbels are wiry at the base, fitted into a groove at the lower margin of the large eye, and extend to the tips of the ventral fins or to the the origin of the anal fin. E. gameroi has a broad, nearly horizontal stripe of dark pigmentation that extends from the base to the tip of the upper lobe of the caudal fin. In addition, the lateral surfaces of the body of E. melaphaereus and E. benjamini has little, if any dark pigmentation, whereas E. gameroi sometimes has irregular blotches of dark pigmentation and, often a dark midlateral stripe.

Males develop increased dark pigment along the lateral line and broadening of the band in the lower lobe of the caudal fin (see Sexual Differences below).

Provide sand or smooth gravel as a substrate, driftwood and plants for hiding places. Can be found sleeping on its side during the day in plant coverage or on the substrate given the sometimes common name of "Sleeping Catfish". Can be kept with most fish that are not too small as this family will predate on fry and small fishes at night although generally a peaceful species. Better to keep in a small group which will make them happier in an aquarium set-up.

In its natural habitat they spawn in July and August which is the period of maximal annual flooding.

The dorsal fin spine of the male becomes longer and curves anteriorly slightly in the middle and distal part. The serrations become irregular and new ones appear at the posterior edge. The pectoral spines of the male become excessively elongate, almost twice their former length, and become broader. In the anal fin of the male there is a reduction of the length of the base; the first three fusing into a plate-like structure with strong surfaces for muscle attachment; and the margin of the fin becomes concave changing from convex in normal males). The second ray of the males left pectoral fin develops a kind of hook, and the second ray of the females right pectoral fin develops some serrations. The bony part part of the maxillary barbels of the male, normally almost half their length, become excessively enlarged. These barbels become transformed into two "cachos" giving the male a distinctive aspect. A pseudopenis is developed; it is short, made up of soft tissue, and positionally separated from the anal (not functionally). In other auchenipterterids it can be very large.

Not a fussy eater. Mosquito larvae, artemia, flakefood, tablet and pellet foods. Inactive during the day so would need feeding at night but as aquarists know this family will find food that has been left during daytime feedings.

Entomocorus: Greek; entome, meaning notch, and kore, meaning pupil; in reference to the deep groove at the lower margin of the eye in which the maxillary barbels fit into.

Baensch, H.A. and R. Riehl, 1991. Aquarien atlas. Bd. 3. Melle: Mergus, Verlag für Natur-und Heimtierkunde, Germany. 1104 p.
Burgess, W.E. 1989 An atlas of freshwater and marine catfishes. A preliminary survey of the Siluriformes. T.F.H. Publications, Inc., Neptune City, New Jersey (USA). 784 p.
Reis, R.E. and T.A.K. Borges, 2006. The South American catfish genus Entomocorus (Ostariophysi: Siluriformes: Auchenipteridae), with the description of a new species from the Paraguay River Basin. Copeia 2006(3):412-422.
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Photo Credits

© Michael Kirkham