Teleostei (teleosts) >
Siluriformes (Catfishes) >
Astroblepidae (Naked sucker-mouth catfishes)
Etymology: Astroblepus: Greek, astra = ray + Greek, blepo = to look (Ref. 45335).
Issue
type catalog: Ibarra & Stewart 1987: 12, Ferraris & Vari 1992: 10.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; demersal. Tropical; 0°S - 1°S
South America: Napo River basin.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 7.0 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 37058)
Found only in the perpetually dark regions of cave some 300 meters to 2 kilometers from its mouth. This species is a true cave form, complete with minute eyes and lack of pigments. Hides in holes of rocks. Feeds on mayfly nymphs.
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Schaefer, S.A., 2003. Astroblepidae (Naked sucker-mouth catfishes). p. 312-317. 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. 37058)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-1)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: of no interest
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=0.01622 (0.00799 - 0.03294), b=2.93 (2.75 - 3.11), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this species & Genus-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 3.2 ±0.40 se; based on food items.
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low vulnerability (10 of 100).