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Peckoltia cavatica Armbruster & Werneke, 2005

Image contributors to this species:

Robin Warne (1) Danny Blundell (2)

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Other Sources:

Relevant Information:

Description: Dorsal spines (total): 2; Dorsal soft rays (total): 7; Anal spines: 1; Anal soft rays: 4. Peckoltia cavatica can be identified from all other described Peckoltia except P. braueri by the presence of an orange band in the dorsal fin and by having thin, black lines that outline the plates and bones of the head. The only other species of Peckoltia similar to P. cavatica in colouration are P. lineola and P. vermiculata, which can be identified by having vermiculations on the dorsal head bones and plates (vs. colouration confined to the borders between bones and plates in P. cavatica). The Peckoltia genera possesses a medium sized mouth with the same amount of teeth in the lower and upper jaw. Aquarium Care: Should be kept at slightly higher temperatures and have a requirement for a higher oxygen intake. Peacfull inhabitants of an aquarium. Sexual Differences: Males have bristles behind the gill covers, on the pectoral fin spines and on the posterior part of the body. They also posses bristles on the upper caudal fin rays. Diet: Omnivores, easy to feed with frozen and live foods and also tablet and flake food. Etymology: The specific name cavatica: From the Latin "cavaticus" meaning born or living in caves. In reference to the fact that, in nature, this species is found in holes in lateritic rocks, and the fact that it is likely that such holes are where this species breeds.

Common Name:

Dusky Worm Line Peckoltia

Synonyms:

None

Family:

Loricariidae

Distribution:

South America: Rupununi River in Guyana. Type Locality: Guyana, Rupununi (Region 9), 3.7 km SSE Massara, 03.86228º, –059.28439º.

Size:

7.5cm. (3ins)

Temp:

23-27°c (73-81°f)

p.H.

6.0-7.5.

IUCN Red List

Peckoltia cavatica is listed as Endangered. It is known only from two localities, with an extent of occurrence (EOO) estimated at 3,329 km2. The species is likely found in deep channels making it difficult to sample; however, its likely sister species, P. braueri, is commonly collected in a wider range of habitats. Peckoltia cavatica was only collected in an El Niño year when the river was particularly low (J.W. Armbruster pers. obs.) and the Rupununi River should be further explored in low water conditions. Gold mining is rare in the Rupununi River basin; however, oil exploration has accelerated in recent years in the area just upstream of the known localities of P. cavatica. There is a single location and an inferred continuing decline in habitat based on this threat. Thus, the species meets the criteria of Endangered under B1ab(iii), (IUCN 2023).

Reference:

Armbruster, J.W. 2023. Peckoltia cavatica. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2023.
Armbruster, J.W. and D.C. Werneke, 2005. Peckoltia cavatica, a new loricariid catfish from Guyana and a redescription of P. braueri (Eigenmann 1912) (Siluriformes). Zootaxa 882:1-14.
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. 2014. FishBase. World Wide Web electronic publication. www.fishbase.org, ( 11/2014 ).
Seidel, I. 2008. Back to Nature guide to L-catfishes, Ettlingen, Germany 208 p.

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

Peckoltia cavatica

Peckoltia cavatica

Peckoltia cavatica
Head view

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