| Family: |
Gymnotidae (Naked-back knifefishes), subfamily: Gymnotinae |
| Max. size: |
23.5 cm TL (male/unsexed) |
| Environment: |
benthopelagic; freshwater; depth range - 0 m |
| Distribution: |
South America: lowland Amazon basin in Brazil and Peru. |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 0-0; Anal soft rays: 230-320. Distinguished from its congeners endemic to the Amazon and Orinoco basins and the Guyana Shield in having a color pattern of 14-20 oblique, dark, pigment bands with wavy and irregular margins in which the majority of bands are branched ventrally to form inverted Y-shaped patterns (in adults), in which the dark bands are about twice as broad as the pale interbands and in which the bands rarely form X-shaped patterns at midbody. Further differs in having the following unique combination of characters: clear (unpigmented) patch at the caudal end of the anal-fin membrane in specimens 6-23.5 cm; bands never divided to form band pairs (Ref. 55508). |
| Biology: |
Inhabits mainly isolated swamp pools in the rain forest, which it can reach by moving over-land through moist leaf litter (Ref. 55508). Also occurs in small swamp pools that are never connected to streams and that dry out completely during periods of draught (Ref. 55508). Undertakes aerial respiration by gulping atmospheric air into the hypervascularized posterior chamber of the gas bladder (Ref. 55508). Observed to survive out of water for many hours on a moist substrate (Ref. 55508). Feeds mainly on chironomid larvae, insect nymphs and allochthonous invertebrates that fall from the forest canopy (Ref. 55508). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 20 October 2020 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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