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Rhamdiopsis krugi Bockmann & Castro, 2010 |
Image contributors to this species: |
Danté Fenolio (1) |
ScotCat Sources: |
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Other Sources: |
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Relevant Information: |
Description: Dorsal soft rays (total): 7-8; Anal soft rays: 13 - 17. Distinguished from its congeners, Rhamdiopsis microcephala and Rhamdiopsis moreirai by the possession of the following characters: ethmoid cartilage discontinuous; eyes absent and optic foramen atrophied; longer barbels, length of maxillary barbel 32.2-43.3% SL; supraorbital and infraorbital sensory canals not connected to each other anteriorly; presence of s7 branch and pore of the supraorbital laterosensory canal; no subpreopercle; anterior and posterior branches of the transverse process 4 co-ossified to each other; posterior limb of transverse process 4 undivided, with spatulated shape; posterolateral corner of posterior portion of the posterior branch of the transverse process of vertebra 4 extending approximately to midlength of the transverse process of vertebra 5; presence of a widely exposed pseudotympanum; dorsal fin larger, dorsal-fin base 11.2-14.1% SL and length of third dorsal-fin ray 14.4-18.7% SL; posterior lobe of the adipose fin straight; anal fin deep and rounded; shorter anal-fin base, supported typically by 14-15, less commonly 13 or 16-17 rays; hypural 5 usually co-ossified to hypural 4 at its distal portion; dorsal hypural plate typically with 7, rarely 6 or 8 rays; dorsal caudal-fin lobe typically with 6, rarely 4, 5 or 7 branched rays; ventral caudal plate typically with 6, rarely 7 rays; ventral caudal-fin lobe typically with 6, rarely 4 or 5 branched rays; body relatively shorter, with 38-40 vertebrae; lateral line very short, with 5-15 pores, usually reaching from the vertical through posterior region of pseudotympanum to the vertical through dorsal-fin origin; fatty tissue broadly spread through the body; adults of small body size, reaching 3.85 cm SL; body unpigmented; non-cryptobiotic behavior, expressed by marked midwater activity; non-photophobic behavior; poorly-developed circadian rhythms; and life in lentic habitat. Differs also from Rhamdiopsis microcephala by its epiphyseal branches of supraorbital laterosensory canals not fused to each other, each one bearing its own pore, the s6 pore, and basal third of the posterior border of the adipose fin connected with the dorsal fold of caudal fin, leaving a large, almost complete free posterior lobe. Habitat: Found in the upper phreatic zone of a large karstic area (over 300 km2) including limestones and quartzites, which is connected to surface through caves. Inhabits lentic waters formed by the water table inside the caves, varying from large, partially illuminated lakes to isolated pools. Mainly solitary. Observed swimming up to about 35 m depth, but it usually aggregates between the surface and 10 m. Reported to show preference for substrate, concentrating in the rocky walls. Diet: Strictly a carnivorous species which feeds on invertebrates found near or on the bat guano. Etymology: The specific name krugi: Named for Luiz Krug, professional tourist guide based in the city of Lençóis, in the Chapada Diamantina area, who called our attention of the existence of this new catfish and helped to collect its type series, and for his efforts dedicated to its conservation. |
Common Name: |
None |
Synonyms: |
None |
Family: |
Heptapteridae |
Distribution: |
South America: Brazil, lake inside the Poço Encantado cave, and isolated pools inside the Lapa do Bode and Natal caves in Bahia. |
Size: |
4.0cm. (1½ins) |
Temp: |
24-26°C (75-79°F) |
p.H. |
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6.0-7.0. |
IUCN Red List |
Rhamdiopsis krugi is an extremely specialised species known only from limestone caves in the Chapada Diamantina region, Paraguaçu River basin, in the central part of the state of Bahia. It is known from ten caves, representing six locations, in an extent of occurrence (EOO) of 656 km² . All caves are outside of conservation units, and some are subject to impacts such as the presence of cattle around the cave, causing burial in Lapa do Bode; pollution by pesticides and nitrogen from cattle urine in the Pratinha System; unregulated diving activities in Poço Azul; and the unregulated exploitation of groundwater through artesian wells, which can lead to a decline in the water table in the Iraquara region. These activities have caused a continued decline in habitat quality. Thus, the species has been classified as Vulnerable (VU). The regulation and monitoring of these activities is essential, and the implementation of management plans for these caves is urgent, (IUCN 2021). |
Reference: |
Bockmann, F.A. and
R.M.C. Castro, 2010. The blind catfish from
the caves of Chapada Diamantina, Bahia, Brazil (Siluriformes:
Heptapteridae): description, anatomy, phylogenetic
relationships, natural history, and biogeography.
Neotrop. Ichthyol. 8(4):673-706. |
Family: Heptapteridae Back to Ident-A-Cat Click on Thumbnails |
Rhamdiopsis krugi |
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