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Allan James (5) Peru Aquarium Group (1) Daniel Blom (1) Enrico Richter (1) Julio Endler (2) Devya Hemraj (1) Karsten Schönherr (1) Dave Rinaldo (1)

Description: Dorsal spines (total): 1; Dorsal soft rays (total): 5 - 6; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 20 - 25. The body is stocky, the head a little depressed, the inferior jaw a little prognathous, the cephalic helmet covered with finely pigmented skin in adults, with a fontanelle shorter than the orbital diameter. Occurs in swamps. Well-adapted to hypoxic environments, being able to survive for hours, emerged. Reproduction: The spiny structure of the pectoral fins enables the male to hold the females during mating (internal fertilisation). Sperm can be kept in the female's genital tract for several months, owing to a gelatinous emission from the seminal vesicle of the male. At maturity, the size of the adhesive eggs (20% of the female's weight) is 3 mm. Nine days after hatching, alevin size is 1.5 cm and they feed on microscopic worms or small insects. At around 11 days, their negative phototropism pushes them to hide themselves under branches or rocks. Aquarium Care: As with most species in this family they need hiding places such as pipes/caves where they will reside most of the day. Will come out at night to prowl so smaller fishes will be looked upon as prey although this is not one of the most aggressive members of this family. Diet: In its natural habitat the adults feed on small fishes, arthropods, worms and sometimes on fruits. In the aquaria most prepared foods such as tablet and pellet and frozen foods such as bloodworm. If the aquarium is dimly lit you can see the it coming out to feed. Etymology: The genus name Trachelyopterus: meaning trachelos, neck; pterus, fin, presumably referring to the elevated nape of T. coriaceus, which gives the appearance that dorsal fin originates at the neck region. The specific name galeatus: helmeted, presumably referring to the skin-covered cephalic shield. Remarks: Depending what river system they are imported from they can be variable in colouration, from light to dark. The last thumbnail specimen from Colombia shows this trait and it may turn out to be T. galeatus or an undescribed species. This genus is in need of revision in the future.

Common Woodcat

Silurus galeatus, Pseudauchenipterus galeatus, Trachycorystes galeatus, Parauchenipterus galeatus, Auchenipterus maculosus, Parauchenipterus paseae

Auchenipteridae

South America: Brazil, French Guiana, Peru, Surinam, Trinidad & Tobago

22.0cm. (8¾ins)

20-24°c (67-75°f.)

6.0-7.5.

Boujard, T., M. Pascal, F.J. Meunier and P.-Y. Le Bail 1997 Poissons de Guyane. Guide écologique de l'Approuague et de la réserve des Nouragues. Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, Paris, 219 p.
Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors. 2009. FishBase. World Wide Web electronic publication. www.fishbase.org, version (01/2011).
Grant, Steven. pers comm.
The ETYFish Project Fish Name Etymology Database © Christopher Scharpf.