| Family: |
Auchenipteridae (Driftwood catfishes), subfamily: Auchenipterinae |
| Max. size: |
22 cm SL (male/unsexed) |
| Environment: |
demersal; freshwater; brackish; pH range: 6.5 - 8; dH range: 30 |
| Distribution: |
South America: Lower reaches of rivers and into estuaries from Venezuela to Brazil, at least to Bahia, including southern Trinidad. |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 1-1; Dorsal soft rays (total): 6-6; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 20-25. Body is thick compared to that of Auchenipterus. Snout is very rounded, with a recessed lower jaw. The moderately large eyes are lateral in position. The zigzag lateral line is complete. The branchiospines are short and numerous. The caudal fin has 17 spines (Ref. 35381). |
| Biology: |
Found over muddy bottoms in brackish river mouths. Probably prefers large rivers and slightly brackish waters (Ref. 11225, 27188). Occurs in very thick schools over muddy bottoms. Omnivorous, with a tendency towards detritivorous feeding. Searches for food in the zones of the village waste waters. During reproduction, towards the month of December, the ventral fins and the mandible turn pink. At this time, the weight of the male and female's mature gonads account for 10% and 25%, respectively, of the body weight (Ref. 35381). Marketed fresh. |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 13 August 2020 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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