The Aspidoras genera
differ from Corydoras by their different
behaviour such as their swimming habits. The eyes
are smaller, body smaller and a smaller head shape
in Aspidoras compared with Corydoras.
Aspidoras posses a duel fontanel bone structure
in the skull whereas Corydoras have only the
one larger fontanel. Lineage: All
Aspidoras belong to Lineage 2 with the exception
of A.
pauciradiatuswhich
will prove to be a Corydoras and if a revision
is carried out will be Gastrodermus (Cope,
1878) and a member of Lineage 5 alongside members
of the "elegans group". Aquarium
Care: Aspidoras albater is fairly
uncommon in the hobby but as with all of this genus
they are best kept in groups of six or more and are
best housed with small fishes that are not aggressive.
Provide a planted area in the tank for cover and include
a soft substrate such as sand or small rounded gravel.
Diet:Flake, tablet
foods, small live and frozen foods. Etymology:
The specific name alabater: albus (L.), white;
ater (L.), black, referring to solid black or dark-brown
blotches on pale tan body. Remarks:
Many species of Aspidoras are difficult to
tell apart unless there is area catchment information
available. A. albater and C035 have turned
out to be the same species and A. taurus
and A. eurycephalus have also turned out
to be synonyms of A. albater.
Common
Name:
False
macropterus, C035
Synonyms:
Aspidoras taurus, Aspidoras
eurycephalus
Family:
Callichthyidae
Distribution:
South America:
Brazil,
Goiás, Rio Tocantinzinha near São João
da Aliança, 14°46’S, 47° 30’W,
Rio Tocantins system.
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