Description:Dorsal
spines (total): 2; Dorsal soft rays (total): 6; Anal
soft rays: 23 - 30; Vertebrae: 38 - 41. Tympanopleura
cryptica is distinct from its congeners by having
a unique combination of characters. It is distinguished
from T. atronasus in having gill rakers on
the first arch 21-26, mode 22 (vs. 14-23, mode 16
), preanal vertebrae 14-15 (vs. 16-19); total vertebrae
38-41, mode 38 (vs. 39-43, mode 41); pleural rib pairs
4-5 (vs. 7-8), distance between pectoral- and dorsal-fin
origin 21.6-24.3% SL (vs. 15.7-20.9% SL), and a uniform
body colouration that does not include a dark blotch
of melanophores on the flank above the anal-fin base
or streaks in the caudal fin, as is typically present
in T. atronasus. It can be diagnosed from
T. brevis in having anal-fin rays 23-30 (vs.
31-36), pectoral-fin rays 8-10, mode 9 (vs. 10-12,
mode 11), and total vertebrae 38 (vs. 38-41, mode
40). It differs from T. longipinna in having
anal-fin rays 23-30 (vs. 32-42), pectoral-fin rays
8-10, mode 9 (vs. 10-13, mode 11), preanal vertebrae
14-15, mode 15 (vs. 13-15, mode 14), total vertebrae
38-41, mode 38 (vs. 40-43, mode 43), preanal length
59.6-66.0% SL (vs. 49.7-57.6% SL), distance between
dorsal and adipose-fin origin 33.9-46.7% SL (vs. 46.5-54.0%
SL), anal-fin base length 24.4-30.3% SL (vs. 33.9-39.9%
SL), and eye diameter 16.7-25.6% HL (vs. 11.6-18.5%
HL). It is distinguished from T. piperata
in having anal-fin rays 23-30 (vs. 31-38), gill rakers
on the first arch 21-26, mode 22 (vs. 16- 23, mode
19), total vertebrae 38-41, mode 38 (vs 39-41, mode
40), prepelvic length 48.4-53.6% SL (vs. 41.3-47.0%
SL), prepectoral length 29.7-33.8% SL (vs. 23.6-28.3%
SL), distance between pectoral and dorsal-fin origin
21.6-24.3% SL (vs. 15.2-20.9% SL), distance between
dorsal-and adipose-fin origin 33.9-46.7% SL (vs. 45.9-55.4%
SL), anal-fin base length 24.4-30.3% SL (vs. 30.9-39.3%
SL), eye diameter 16.7-25.6% HL (vs. 24.3-35.7% HL),
presence of two small posterior diverticula on gas
bladder (vs. diverticula absent), and base of the
caudal fin without a characteristic dark, hourglass-shaped
transverse bar usually present in T. piperata.
It differs from T. rondoni in having anal-fin
rays 23-30, mode 29 (vs. 28-37, mode 31), pectoral-fin
rays 8-10, mode 9 (vs. 10-13, mode 11), gill rakers
on the first arch 21-26, mode 22 (vs. 24-33, mode
29-30), total vertebrae 38-41, mode 38 (vs. 38-42,
mode 40), pleural rib pairs 4-5, mode 5 (vs. 4-6,
mode 6), eye diameter 16.7-25.6% HL (vs. 8.4-17.0%
HL), gas bladder cordiform and with two short posterior
diverticula (vs. gas bladder elongated antero-posteriorly
and with two longer, recurved diverticula), and pigmentation
on the head and body diffuse and relatively uniform
in appearance (vs. prominent spotted pattern) (Walsh,
S.J. et al). Aquarium Care: Although
of a smaller size to its close relative, Ageneiosus,
they could still prove to be predatory as per this
genera, so would need to be kept with fish that are
not too small. Keep them in groups as they are far
happier than singularly. Diet: Presumably
meat based with shrimp, prawns, mussel, whitebait
and carnivore pellets as they can be problematic to
get starting on a feeding regime. Etymology.
The genus name meaning tympano-, tympanum; pleuro,
side, referring to prominent pseudotympanum consisting
of an area on side of body devoid of epaxial musculature
where gas bladder contacts internal coelomic wall.
The specific epithet cryptica is derived
from the transliterated Greek kryptos, meaning hidden
or concealed, in reference to the close morphological
and pigmentation similarities of this species to congeners
and its previously unrecognised taxonomic distinctiveness.
Gender feminine.
Common
Name:
Dusky Dwarf Duck Catfish
Synonyms:
None
Family:
Auchenipteridae
Distribution:
South America:
Middle and upper Amazon River basin, State of Amazonas
in Brazil and Loreto Region in Peru. Type
locality: Loreto, río Solimões
drainage, río Orosa, mouth of Tonche Cano,
69.4 mi east of Iquitos, about 3°47'26"S,
73°14'50"W, Peru.
Size:
10.0cm (4ins)
Temp:
24-27°c (75-81°f.)
p.H.
6.5-7.5
Reference:
Grant, S.
(2021): Banjos, Dorads and Woodcats. Aspredinidae,
Doradidae and Auchenipteridae Catfishes. ATS-Aquashop,
Neustadt am Rübenberge: 1-300.
Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors. 2023. FishBase.
World Wide Web electronic publication. www.fishbase.org
( 07/2023 ). Walsh, S.J., F.R.V. Ribeiro and L.H. Rapp
Py-Daniel, 2015. Revision of Tympanopleura
Eigenmann (Siluriformes: Auchenipteridae) with description
of two new species. Neotrop. Ichthyol. 13(1):1-46.
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