Rhynchodoras castilloi Birindelli, Sabaj Pérez & Taphorn, 2007

Family:  Doradidae (Thorny catfishes), subfamily: Doradinae
Max. size:  7.98 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  demersal; freshwater
Distribution:  South America: middle to lower Río Apure of the Orinoco basin in Venezuela.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 1-1; Dorsal soft rays (total): 6-6; Vertebrae: 41-41. Differs from Rhynchodoras xingui by having the following characters: all three tympanal scutes weakly developed (vs. second and particularly third well developed, latter with medial carina); midlateral scutes 34-36 (vs. 33 -34); and anterior midlateral scutes relatively shallow, depth about one-fifth of corresponding body depth, and with dorsal and ventral laminae weakly developed, lacking distinct serrations along posterior margins (vs. depth about one-third to one-quarter of corresponding body depth, and dorsal and ventral laminae well developed with conspicuously serrated posterior margins). Diagnosed from Rhynchodoras woodsi by having a simple swim bladder (vs. each posterior chamber of gas bladder expanded into elongate horn-like diverticulum), and tubercles punctate and abundant (vs. tubercles elongate, dashlike, and sparse) (Ref. 72419). Description: A iii-iv,8-9; V i+6 (Ref. 72419).
Biology:  Reported to feed on Trichoptera (Ref. 72419).
IUCN Red List Status: Vulnerable (VU); Date assessed: 15 February 2021 (B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii)) Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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