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Pimelodella geryi Hoedeman, 1961

Image contributors to this species:

Mark Henry Sabaj (2)

ScotCat Sources:

Other Sources:

Relevant Information:

Appears to be smaller than P. cristata. Habitat: P. geryi and P. cristata share the same biotope. Inhabits the high and middle parts of rivers, in zones with more or less fast flowing water and a rocky substrate (rock clusters consisting of pre-Cambrian pebbles, shales). Lies hidden under rocks, letting its barbel out to auscultate the exterior world. Emits growling sounds regularly (alarm signals?) and goes stalk-hunting frequently scouting around its hiding place. The population is organised in a hierarchical structure based on size, with markedly aggressive behavior. The juveniles are found mostly in seasonal little tributaries. Aquarium Care: Treat as you would do with any member of the Pimelodus in that they will be predatory on small fishes in the aquarium and it is also better to keep them in small groups rather than singularly, as this will dilute the aggression. Diet: Diet changes according to size: small crustaceans, insect larvae and adult, and fish. In the aquarium it will eat any aquarium prepared foods such as tablets, pellets, frozen and live foods. Not fussy eaters. Etymology: The specific name geryi: In honour of French physician and ichthyologist Jacques Géry (1917–2007), who collected holotype. Remarks: This slow-growing species can live for more than 10 years in the wild.

Common Name:

None

Synonyms:

Rhamdia cyanostigma

Family:

Heptapteridae

Distribution:

South America: Maroni River basin, Suriname. Type locality: French Guiana, mainland, Litany River, village Aloiké, sta. 29S.

Size:

6.0cm. (2½ins)

Temp:

24-28°C (75-83°F)

p.H.

6.0-7.0.

IUCN Red List

Pimelodella geryi is a species distributed in several streams of Guiana Shield tributaries in Brazil, French Guiana and Suriname. Threats relate to the presence of dams, gold mining residues and industrial and domestic pollution. However, this species is widespread and part of the population is found in protected areas, and so it is assessed as Least Concern. Nevertheless, more studies are needed in order to evaluate the consequences of the mentioned threats to the population, even in protected areas, (IUCN 2022).

Reference:

Bockmann, F.A. and G.M. Guazzelli, 2003. Heptapteridae (Heptapterids). p. 406-431. In R.E. Reis, S.O. Kullander and C.J. Ferraris, Jr. (eds.) Checklist of the Freshwater Fishes of South and Central America. Porto Alegre: EDIPUCRS, Brasil.
Ferraris, C.J. Jr., 2007. Checklist of catfishes, recent and fossil (Osteichthyes: Siluriformes), and catalogue of siluriform primary types. Zootaxa 1418:1-628.
Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors. 2015. FishBase. World Wide Web electronic publication. www.fishbase.org, (11/2015).
Le Bail, P.-Y., P. Keith and P. Planquette, 2000. Atlas des poissons d'eau douce de Guyane. Tome 2, Fascicule II: Siluriformes. Collection Patrimoines Naturels 43(II): 307p. Paris: Publications scientifiques du Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle.
Slobodian, V. & Bezerra, I. 2022. Pimelodella geryi. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2022.
The ETYFish Project Fish Name Etymology Database © Christopher Scharpf.

Family: Heptapteridae Back to Ident-A-Cat Click on Thumbnails

Pimelodella geryi

Pimelodella geryi
Parque Nacional Montanhas do Tumucumaque

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