Classification / Names
Common names | Synonyms | Catalog of Fishes(genus, species) | ITIS | CoL | WoRMS | Cloffa
Teleostei (teleosts) >
Siluriformes (Catfishes) >
Trichomycteridae (Pencil or parasitic catfishes) > Trichomycterinae
Etymology: Trichomycterus: Greek, thrix = hair + Greek, mykter, -eros = nose (Ref. 45335); giganteus: Derived from the Latin giganteus (gigantic), referring to its large size, the biggest among species from southeastern Brazil.
More on authors: Lima & Costa.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; demersal. Tropical
South America: Upper Rio Guandu basin in southeastern Brazil.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 20.4 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 54465)
Short description
Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics
Dorsal soft rays (total): 12 - 13; Anal soft rays: 10 - 11; Vertebrae: 36 - 37. Distinguishable from the other species of the genus by having a broad dark bluish gray stripe along lateral midline of body, restricted to inner layer of tegument, overlapped by superficial dark brown spots. Also distinguished from the remaining species of the southeastern Brazil by having nine pectoral-fin rays, high number of odontodes (interopercular 59-70 vs. 30-52, opercular 23-30 vs. 10-20), anal-fin origin at vertical posterior to dorsal-fin base and a dark gray opercular patch of odontodes vs. light yellow . Differs from T. nigricans and T. immaculatus by a combination of longer nasal and maxillary barbels (nasal reaching pectoral fin base, vs. between orbit and opercular patch of odontodes; maxillary reaching anterior third of pectoral fin, vs. to interopercular patch of odontodes) and a single median third supraorbital pore vs. third supraorbital pore paired (Ref. 54465).
Although the type locality is a clear water stream with strong current, all specimens were found in still water between 50 and 200 cm deep, hidden under rocks (Ref. 54465).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Lima, S.M.Q. and W.J.E.M. Costa, 2004. Trichomycterus giganteus (Siluriformes: Loricarioidea: Trichomycteridae): a new catfish from the Rio Guandu basin, southeastern Brazil. Zootaxa 761:1-6. (Ref. 54465)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-1)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: of no interest
Tools
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Estimates based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.5000 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.00977 (0.00400 - 0.02388), b=3.04 (2.84 - 3.24), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this Genus-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 3.3 ±0.4 se; based on size and trophs of closest relatives
Resilience (Ref.
120179): Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (Assuming Fec < 100).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low vulnerability (15 of 100).
