Teleostei (teleosts) >
Siluriformes (Catfishes) >
Auchenipteridae (Driftwood catfishes) > Auchenipterinae
Etymology: Trachelyopterus: Greek, trachelos = neck + greek, pteron = wing, fin (Ref. 45335).
More on author: Linnaeus.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; demersal; pH range: 6.0 - 7.5; dH range: ? - 18. Tropical; 20°C - 24°C (Ref. 2060)
South America: Widespread in northern South America.
Length at first maturity / Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm 10.8 range ? - ? cm
Max length : 30.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 115169); 23.0 cm TL (female); max. published weight: 675.00 g (Ref. 115169); max. published weight: 675.00 g; max. reported age: 3.00 years (Ref. 35381)
Dorsal spines (total): 1; Dorsal soft rays (total): 5 - 6; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 20 - 25. The body is stocky, the head a little depressed, the inferior jaw a little prognathous, the cephalic helmet covered with finely pigmented skin in adults, with a fontanelle shorter than the orbital diameter (Ref. 35381).
Occurs in swamps. Well-adapted to hypoxic environments, being able to survive for hours, emerged. Adults feed on small fishes, arthropods, worms and sometimes on fruits (Ref. 35381). The spiny structure of the pectoral fins enables the male to hold the females during mating (internal fertilization). Sperm can be kept in the female's genital tract for several months, owing to a gelatinous emission from the seminal vesicle of the male. At maturity, the size of the adhesive eggs (20% of the female's weight) is 3 mm. Nine days after hatching, alevin size is 1.5 cm and they feed on microscopic worms or small insects. At around 11 days, their negative phototropism pushes them to hide themselves under branches or rocks. Its pink flesh is highly appreciated by the local population (Ref. 27188).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Ferraris, C.J. Jr., 2003. Auchenipteridae (Driftwood catfishes). p. 470-482. 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. (Ref. 37098)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-2)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: minor commercial; aquarium: commercial
Tools
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Internet sources
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=0.01479 (0.01176 - 0.01861), b=3.10 (3.03 - 3.17), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this species (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 3.1 ±0.40 se; based on food items.
Resilience (Ref.
120179): High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (tmax=3).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low vulnerability (20 of 100).
