SCOTCAT.COM

your internet guide to all things catfish

Eremophilus mutisii Humboldt, 1805

Image contributors to this species:

Robin Warne (1) mateomolinaz (2)

ScotCat Sources:

Other Sources:

Relevant Information:

This species is monotypic (only member of the genera). They lack ventral fins so they are easily identified against other related genera. Aquarium Care: Peaceful catfish which is nocturnal and hides during the day so provide caves or driftwood. This is a non parasitic Trichomycteridae so is suitable for aquaria. Diet: Mosquito larvae, tubifex, tablet and flake foods. Etymology: The genus name Erempphilus: erêmos, solitary or lonely; philus, from phílos, fond of, referring to “solitude in which it lives at such great heights [Bogotá, Colombia, elevation ~2640 m], and in waters that are hardly inhabited by any other living being” (translation). The specific name mutisii: In honour of Spanish priest, botanist and mathematician José Celestino Mutis (1732–1808), “the famous naturalist whose rich collections are preserved in the great valley of Bogotá” (translation).

Common Name:

None

Synonyms:

Trachypoma marmoratum

Family:

Trichomycteridae

Distribution:

South America: Bogotá River basin; probably introduced to Ubaté, Chinquinquirá and Tundama valleys, Colombia. Type locality: petite rivière de Bogota, qui forme la fameuse catarate de Tequendama, Colombia.

Size:

30.0cm. (12ins)

Temp:

22-28°c (71-83°f.)

p.H.

6.0-7.0.

IUCN Red List

This species' native distribution is restricted and impacted by several threats due to the expansion of the city of Bogota and other smaller cities in the area. However, it has been introduced in several lakes and reservoirs around the country more than fifty years ago where it has established viable populations. In addition, it has been successfully bred in captivity. Considering its entire range, this species is therefore listed as Least Concern owing to its wide distribution and the lack of widespread threats, but needs updating, (IUCN 2016).

Reference:

Baensch, H.A. and R. Riehl, 1995. Aquarien Atlas. Band 4. Mergus Verlag GmbH, Verlag für Natur-und Heimtierkunde, Melle, Germany. 864 p.
de Pínna, M.C.C. and W. Wosiacki, 2003. Trichomycteridae (pencil or parasitic catfishes). p. 270-290. 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.
Mesa-Salazar, L., Alonso, J. C. & Mojica, J. 2016. Eremophilus mutisii. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016.
The ETYFish Project Fish Name Etymology Database © Christopher Scharpf.

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

Eremophilus mutisii

Eremophilus mutisii
Vía a Subachoque-Tabio, Tenjo, Cundinamarca, Colombia

If you would like to contribute to the monthly factsheets with an article, information or photos, please e-mail me. You will of course be credited for your work.

If you would like to donate any denomination of monies to the site just click the above link button. All proceeds will go to running the site and hopefully to keep it going for a few years yet.