Goeldiella eques
(Müller & Troschel, 1849) |
oeldiella eques,
a member of the Heptaperidae family, is quite a pretty species
and is noted for its sloped head and the common name of the "Fox
Face Pimelodella" or the "Horsehead Pimelodid"
referring to its specific name eques (meaning horse).
It is monotypic (the only member of its genus) with Goelldiella
being a sub-family of the Pimelodidae, Heptapteridaeinae,
which is now been given full family status. There are up to 200
species in this South and Central American family comprising mostly
of the genera Imparfinis, Pimelodella, Brachyrhamdia
and Rhamdia. Most are predators which vary in size but
can be kept in an aquarium with tank mates that have been chosen
carefully.
Distinguished from the close family of
Pimelodidae by the flattened head, the shape of the occipital
crest and the narrowly rounded anal. The obliquely rounded caudal
and long adipose fin, together with distinctive lateral band which
forks a t-shape from the base of the dorsal. Often confused with
the African Bagrid Chrysichthys
ornatus from the Claroteidae
family due
to its similar colour pattern. The difference of course is that
the African species, C. ornatus, has an extra pair of
barbels in having nasal barbels, a shorter adipose fin and a different
head shape and is also not as rare in imports as G. eques.
The maps show the area's above for the locations for Goeldiella
eques in the coastal
Rivers of the Guianas and Amazon River basin. Type locality:
in allen Flüssen Guiana’s.
Aquarium Care: In the
aquarium you should treat this species as you would any "Pim"
and house them with tank mates that are the same size or larger
and who occupy a different layer of the tank be it mid water or
top. Provide a sand or rounded gravel substrate some driftwood
with subdued lighting. Plants are optional as they may be uprooted
on their night time forays.
Described as the body being not as wide as
deep at the level of the pectoral fins and is compressed towards
the caudal. Large eyes, being contained only about 5 times in the
head length. There is a deep groove from the maxillary barbel to
below the eye; the maxillary barbels are long, extending to beyond
the tip of the caudal fin. The adipose fin is long, about 3 to 3½
times in the length.
Body lightly coloured with a thick brown
line starting from the insertion of the dorsal fin through to
the caudal peduncle which has a brown band. Caudal fin has a brown
bar running through it. A dark brown bar runs from the insertion
of the dorsal fin on a slant to the gill plates. A thinner line
runs from this to just under the head. Dorsal fin has a thick
brown bar on the leading rays. There is also a light brown band
running on the top side of the body from just under the dorsal
and ending at the posterior end of the adipose fin. There are
also brown speckles on the body which can deviate from specimen
to specimen. The belly is white to cream coloured. The head area
is spotted.
Not suitable to be housed with smaller species
but should fit in with South American Cichlids and larger Characins
in a spacious tank.
As yet unknown.
| Sexual
differences |
Not yet described.
|
| Diet |
Mostly live foods such as earthworms, whiteworms
and frozen foods such as bloodworm and tubifex. Will also accept
catfish pellets, mussels and tablet food.
| Etymology |
Goeldiella:
In honour of Goeld, (diminutive form).
eques:
From ‘eques’, a horse.
|
| References |
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.
Ferraris, C.J. Jr., 2007. Checklist of
catfishes, recent and fossil (Osteichthyes: Siluriformes),
and catalogue of siluriform primary types. Zootaxa 1418:1-628.
Sands, David; Catfishes
of the World, Volume 3 Auchenipteridae & Pimelodidae.
Dunure Publications 1984.
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| Glossary
of Terms |
Occipital
: A median bone on the upper surface of the back of the
head; pertaining to the occiput.
Adipose fin:
Fleshy finlike projection without rays, behind
the rayed dorsal fin.
Maxillary barbels:
Pertaining to the
upper jaw. (maxillary barbels)
Anal fin:
The fin forward from the anal cavity.
Caudal fin:
The primary rayed fin(s) on top of the body.
Pectoral fin:
The paired fins just behind the head.
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Top
left: © Enrico
Richter @ 
Top right: ©
Johnny Jensen @
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