Misidentified in some literature
and confused with the more common species of E.
gameroi which has a
black band to the upper caudal fin lobe. Given its
common name of Sleeping catfish due to its habit of
lying on its side on the substrate or in plants. Reproduction:
This species spawns in July and August in the period
of maximal annual flooding. Sexual Differences:The males have elongated ventral fins and
the dorsal becomes long and curved. Aquarium
Care: Inactive during the day so would need
feeding at night but as aquarists know this family
will find food that has been left during daytime feedings.
Diet: Not a fussy eater. Mosquito
larvae, artemia, flakefood, tablet and pellet foods.
Inactive during the day so would need feeding at night
but as aquarists know this family will find food that
has been left during daytime feedings. Etymology:
The genus name Entomocorus:Greek; entome, meaning
notch, and kore, meaning pupil; in reference to the
deep groove at the lower margin of the eye in which
the maxillary barbels fit into. The specific name
benjamini: named in honour of Marcus Benjamin,
Editor of the publications of the United States National
Museum.
Common
Name:
Benjamin's
catfish, Sleeping catfish
Synonyms:
None
Family:
Auchenipteridae
Distribution:
South America:upper Madeira River basin Bolivia. Type
locality: San Joaquin [Bolivia].
Size:
7.0cm. (2¾ins)
Temp:
25-29°c (77-85°f.)
p.H.
6.0-7.5.
Reference:
Ferraris, C.J. Jr.,
2007. Checklist of catfishes, recent and fossil (Osteichthyes:
Siluriformes), and catalogue of siluriform primary
types. Zootaxa 1418:1-628. Ferraris, C.J. Jr., 2003. Auchenipteridae
(Driftwood catfishes). p. 470-482. In R.E. Reis, S.O.
Kullander and C.J. Ferraris, Jr. (eds.) Checklist
of the Freshwater Fishes of South and Central America.
Porto Alegre: EDIPUCRS, Brasil. Froese, R. and D. Pauly.
Editors. 2016. FishBase. World Wide Web electronic
publication. www.fishbase.org, ( 10/2016 ).
Entomocorus
benjamini Bolivia, Rio Ibare,
Trinidad
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