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Steven Grant (3) Stuart Brown (1)

Currently, the Aspredinidae possesses 13 valid genera (2020). Acanthobunocephalus Friel, Amaralia Fowler, Aspredinichthys Bleeker, Aspredo Scopoli, Bunocephalus Kner, Dupouyichthys Schultz, Ernstichthys Fernández-Yépez, Hoplomyzon Myers, Micromyzon Friel & Lundberg, Platystacus Bloch, Pseudobunocephalus Friel, Pterobunocephalus Fowler, and Xyliphius Eigenmann, all endemic from the Neotropical region. Bunocephalus is the most speciose genus in the family. Bunocephalus was proposed as a new genus by Kner (1855), but the type-species Platystacus verrucosus Bloch, 1794 was subsequently designated by Bleeker (1862-1863). Bunocephalus includes nine valid species distributed in the drainages of Magdalena, Orinoco, Amazonas, São Francisco, Paraná-Paraguay, Uruguay, laguna dos Patos, and in some rivers of the western slope of the Andes (Atrato, San Juan, and Patía) (Friel, 2003). Habitat: Individuals of Bunocephalus species are usually found on submerged foliage or burried in the mud of rivers and backwater creeks. Aquarium Care: This small species is very peaceful which will do well in a quite community tank where the tank mates are non-aggressive. Hides in the sand or amongst plants. Provide a sand substrate due to its habit and a planted dark area to make them feel more secure in their surroundings. Diet: Tablet foods, insect larvae and tubifex. Etymology: The genus name Bunocephalus: buno-, mound or knob; cephalus, head, referring to rounded cusps or bumps on head. The specific name larai: in honor of Rodolpho Lara Campos, sponsor of expedition that collected type. Remarks: Banjo catfishes are characterised by their body shape, which resembles the musical instrument known as banjo (Myers, 1960).

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Aspredinidae

South America: Paraná River basin, Brazil. Type locality: Rio Piracicaba, junto ao Salto; ao 20 klm abaixo (ilha das Flechas) [São Paulo, Brazil].

5.0cm. (2ins)

20-25°c (67-77°f.)

Cardosa, Alexandre R.; 2010. Bunocephalus erondinae, a new species of banjo catfish from southern Brazil (Siluriformes: Aspredinidae) Neotrop. ichthyol. vol.8 no.3 Porto Alegre.
Ferraris, C.J. Jr., 2007. Checklist of catfishes, recent and fossil (Osteichthyes: Siluriformes), and catalogue of siluriform primary types. Zootaxa 1418:1-628.
Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors. 2011. FishBase. World Wide Web electronic publication. www.fishbase.org, version.
The ETYFish Project Fish Name Etymology Database © Christopher Scharpf.