Hypostomus ventromaculatus Boeseman, 1968
Wara wara

Family:  Loricariidae (Armored catfishes), subfamily: Hypostominae
Max. size:  25 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  demersal; freshwater; brackish
Distribution:  South America: Guianan coastal drainages from the Oyapock River to the Suriname River.
Diagnosis:   
Biology:  Lives in the lower reaches of rivers within the limit of the brackish water and the first rapids (Ref. 35381). Very abundant in estuaries; prefers dead tree trunks and the vast zones of flooded vegetation (Ref. 27188). Also occurs on the muddy bottoms of the banks occupied by Montrichardia arborescens, moving together Loricaria cataphracta and Pimelodus blochii according to the tide. May use its stomach as an accessory breathing organ. Feeds mainly on unicellular algae and then on protozoa, rotifers, nematodes and arthropods as accessory food items (Ref. 35381).
IUCN Red List Status: Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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