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Daniel Konn-Veterlein (1) Mark Henry Sabaj (1)

Description: Distinguished from H. orestis and H. wilderi by having two weakly-branched diverticula restricted to each side of anterior chamber of gas bladder (rarely one extra pair on posterior chambers) (vs. gas bladder with many well-branched diverticula along margins of entire bladder); and gas bladder rounded posteriorly (vs. gas bladder triangular posteriorly, each posterior chamber extended posteriorly into a short terminal diverticulum sharing medial septum with its pair). Hassar gabiru is further distinguished from H. orestis by having 11th through 15th, modally 13th, midlateral scute as the anteriormost with median thorn (vs. 1st through 8th, modally 3rd), tip of upper caudal-fin lobe not darkened (vs. usually darkened), body depth at dorsal-fin origin 24.3-33.1%, mean 25.8% SL (vs. 16.8-22.2%, mean 21.1% L), body depth at anal-fin origin 15.9-20.7%, mean 17.3% SL (vs. 10.0-14.7%, mean 13.1% SL), and caudal peduncle depth 6.6-8.6%, mean 7.1% SL (vs. 4.3-6.4%, mean 5.5% SL). Hassar gabiru is distinguished from H. affinis by having the distal tip of the first branched dorsal-fin rays and membranes pale (vs. first branched dorsal-fin rays and membranes distally darkened); and lateral diverticula on the gas bladder fingerlike, weakly-branched in large specimens (vs. rounded, rarely branched in large specimens). Habitat: Like its congeners, this species was usually collected in swift water over sand beaches at night. It has been considered that specimens of Hassar orestis (= Hassar gabiru) collected at the Volta Grande rapids have preference for benthic invertebrates and detritus. Aquarium Care: For a large species it is non aggressive and can be kept with smaller species such as small characins, dwarf cichlids, small labyrinth species and also other small catfish such as Corydoras and the smaller members of the Loracariids. Provide a soft substrate such as fine sand as they like to sift through this for edibles and a sharp substrate could cause damage to its fine feathered barbels. Lone individuals will not do well in an aquarium setup so a group of three or more will be more beneficial to the long term health of this species. A planted aquarium is a must as they like to hide in the roots more so than having a rock or wood setup. Diet: Tablet foods, small live and frozen foods such as worms and Daphnia.

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Doradidae

South America: Brazil, Occurs in the middle to upper Xingu river basin, and is apparently endemic to the Xingu basin above the raids of Volta Grande, near Altamira.

16.0cm. (6½ins) (Largest specimen examined)

22-25°C (71-77°F)

6.0-7.5.

Birindelli, J.O., D.F. Fayal and W.B. Wosiacki, 2011. Taxonomic revision of thorny catfish genus Hassar (Siluriformes: Doradidae). Neotrop. Ichthyol. 9(3):515-542.
Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors. 2018. FishBase. World Wide Web electronic publication. www.fishbase.org, ( 06/2018 ).