Cetopsidium ferreirai Vari, Ferraris & de Pinna, 2005

Family:  Cetopsidae (Whale catfishes), subfamily: Cetopsinae
Max. size:  3.7 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  benthopelagic; freshwater
Distribution:  South America: Rio Trombetas, left bank tributary of the lower rio Amazonas, Brazil.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal soft rays (total): 5-6; Anal soft rays: 23-24; Vertebrae: 39-40. Distinguished from all its congeners, possibly except for Cetopsidium roae and C. minutum, by lacking distal filaments on the first rays of the dorsal and pectoral fins in adults males. Differs from C. minutum in the length of the pelvic fin by not reaching anal-fin origin. Further differs from C. morenoi in the overall form of the head, being not massive proportionally as a consequence of the less extensive development of the adductor mandibulae muscle onto the dorsal surface of head and with the snout distinctly rounded, and the less extensive dark pigmentation on the body (near absence of dark pigmentation on the lateral surface of body and the pigmentation limited to the middorsal region of body). Differs from C. orientale in the alignment of the dorsal and ventral profiles of the portion of the body posterior of the base of the dorsal fin (profiles converging posteriorly) and in the overall coloration (limited dark pigmentation located largely along the middorsal region of the body). Distinguished from C. pemon by having profile of head anteriorly rounded and by having proportional length of the snout, approximately 2 times diameter of the eye. Differs from C. roae in the position of the vent, proximate to the base of the anterior most anal-fin ray (Ref. 56045).
Biology: 
IUCN Red List Status: Near Threatened (NT); Date assessed: 07 November 2018 (B1a) Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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