| Family: |
Trichomycteridae (Pencil or parasitic catfishes), subfamily: Trichomycterinae |
| Max. size: |
6.15 cm SL (male/unsexed) |
| Environment: |
benthopelagic; freshwater |
| Distribution: |
South America: Columbia. Departamento de Santander, Municipio La Paz, vereda Casas Blancas, Cueva del Indio (73º05’18”W, 6º50’21”N, elevation 2157 m), upper Opón river basin, Magdalena river system (Ref. 87778). |
| Diagnosis: |
This species is distinguished from both epigean and cave restricted species of the genus by having the posterior fontanel divided into two widely separated opening; anterior opening with triangular shape pointed posteriorly; and, posterior opening with triangular or sub-conical to circular shape, the former pointed anteriorly. The following set of characters useful for identification and shared with other species of Trichomycterus include: relatively deep head (45.6-54.1% of HL); narrow mouth (39.3-45.3% of HL); longer nasal, maxillary and rictal barbels (71.4-95.3%, 89.3-112.8% and 50.8-64.1% of HL, respectively), tip of maxillary barbel surpassing pectoral-fin origin; opercular odontodes 10-14; posteriormost branchiostegal rays considerably longer than anterior ones; tip of first pectoral ray prolonged as medium length filament (44.9-55.6% of pectoral-fin length); pelvic-fin origin anterior to vertical through dorsal-fin origin, pelvic fin covering urogenital papilla but not reaching origin of anal fin; obliquely rounded caudal fin, its upper portion slightly longer than lower portion; body color pattern plain dark-gray without spots (Ref. 87778). |
| Biology: |
|
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Vulnerable (VU); Date assessed: 24 August 2020 (D1) Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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