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Mark Henry Sabaj (1) Richard A. Smith (2) Whit Bronaugh (1)

Description: Dorsal spines (total): 1; Dorsal soft rays (total): 6; Anal soft rays: 12 - 16. Upper labial extension very elongate, straight to weakly curved medially and nearly uniform in width with a bluntly rounded tip. Differs further from all Leptodoras except L. acipenserinus by having an adipose fin extending anteriorly as a low thin ridge to a point midway between the anterior insertion of the adipose fin and the posterior insertion of the dorsal fin. Distinguished from L. acipenserinus by a number of characters including a relatively longer predorsal distance (35.5-38.7% SL), inner flap of gill opening incomplete, lower sum of midlateral plates (74-81), anal-fin shape (tip of longest branched ray falls short of vertical through tip of last branched ray in extended anal fin and is more or less even with vertical through base of last ray; line defined by tips angled anteriorly, forming a 45-90° angle with long axis of body), pectoral-fin spine length 19.9-26.2% of SL and pectoral-fin spine dentation with teeth strongly retrorse along majority of posterior margin, becoming less retrorse distally, size relatively uniform along distal half, last denticulation usually subterminal. Habitat: Recently collected from the Rio Tiquié basin (right bank tributary of the upper rio Negro) in the Amazonas State and from the upper Rio Aripuaña (tributary of the rio Madeira) in Mato Grosso State, Brazil, extending the known distribution of this species into the western limits of the Brazilian Shield. Aquarium Care: Best kept in a group in a tank of 48ins or over with a sand substrate, rock and branchwork. Floating plants is a good addition to cut down on the overhead light. Peaceful and will do well alongside species such as Geophagus Cichlids and other larger Characins that will appreciate flowing water. Diet: Insect larvae, frozen foods, mosquito larvae and shrimp.

Elongate Mouse Catfish

Leptodoras acipenserinus, Hemidoras linnelli

Doradidae

South America: Upper Orinoco (rios Ventuari and Mavaca) and Casiquiare River basin in Venezuela; Atlantic Coast drainages of the Guianas and northern Brazil such as Essequibo, Demerara and Araguari); the rios Uatumã, Tacutu and Demini in Brazil.

23.0cm. (9ins)

18-22°C (64-72°F)

6.0-7.0.

CAGB magazine no. 41 January 1984.
Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors. 2008. FishBase. World Wide Web electronic publication. www.fishbase.org, version (02/2009).
Sabaj, M.H. and C.J. Ferraris Jr., 2003. Doradidae (Thorny catfishes). p. 456-469. 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.