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or our factsheet of the month for November 2024 we concentrate on the popular Auchenipteridae family and to a Tatia species that is not all that common in the hobby but never the less is one of the nicest member of this genus, namely Tatia dunni.

The author Henry Weed Fowler (March 23, 1878 – June 21, 1965) was an American zoologist born in Holmesburg, Pennsylvania. He studied at Stanford University under David Starr Jordan. He joined the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia and worked as an assistant from 1903 to 1922, associate curator of vertebrates from 1922 to 1934, curator of fish and reptiles from 1934 to 1940 and curator of fish from 1940 to 1965.

    Tatai dunni

Some T. dunni, from the Peruvian Amazon, have a dark brown body and a mottled anal fin. Large specimens from the Purus river, in central Amazonia, usually have a completely dark body or a lightly spotted colouration. Distinguished from Tatia intermedia by having preanal length 70.0-75.0% SL, vs. 65.0-69.4% SL and interorbital distance 54.1-59.4% HL, vs. 60.1-63.6 HL. A iii,6-7; V i5. Post-Weberian vertebrae.

None

Centromochlus dunni

Centromochinae

South America: Upper Amazon in Ecuador and Colombia; central Amazon in Brazil; Caquetá River drainage in Colombia. Type locality: Morelia, Río Caquetá drainage, Colombia.

12.0cm (4¾ins)

22-26°c (71-79°f.)

Dorsal spines (total): 1; Dorsal soft rays (total): 4 - 5; Anal soft rays: 9 - 10; Vertebrae: 35. Can be diagnosed by the unique combination of characters: nasal ossified with narrow medial flanges partially sutured to lateral margin of mesethmoid; anal fin rays iii, 6-7; modified anal fin with short tip in mature males; first unbranched anal-fin ray with segments fused, last branched ray normally developed, not reduced; ribs 10; and vertebrae 35.

As with per this genera, give them small pipes, and they also seem to like to hide in the crevices of bogwood as well. They appear to be happier if they can jam themselves in with the use of their pectoral fins. Community tanks are fine for this species although you may find that they will predate on fry from other species, but apart from that they come well recommended but don't expect to see them too often.

Internal fertilisation with the eggs deposited 24-48 hours later. Also a report on Tatia creutzbergi, with them placing their adhesive eggs on the underside of wood with no broodcare after the event. A few members of the Auchenipteridae family have been spawned in the hobby with a successful breeding and raising of the young of Trachelyichthys decaradiatus by Dick Thompson, a former member of The Northern Area Catfish Group (now the Catfish Study Group).

The anal fin is the key to the sexual dimorphism of this genus, if you think of the male and female of most livebearer fish (Goodeidae family) and you will not be too far away with this assumption. The female has a normal anal fin but the males are modified into a copulatory organ with the first and second ray thickened and longer, it is thought that the male uses this to clasp the female during the spawning embrace. Mature males also tend to have longer dorsal and pectoral fin spines.

In its native habitat they feed on small invertebrates and crustaceans and in the aquarium they will eat anything given such as frozen bloodworm inserted in to their hideaway, catfish tablets, white worm (sparingly) and prawns and shrimp. They do like their food and you can see them shooting out of their hideouts and swimming in a frenzied manner to try and take all for themselves, especially when you feed them their favourite food, frozen bloodworm.

Anal fin: The median, unpaired, ventrally located fin that lies behind the anus, usually on the posterior half of the fish.
Caudal fin: The tail.
Caudal peduncle: The narrow part of a fish's body to which the caudal or tail fin is attached.
Dorsal fin: The primary rayed fin(s) on top of the body.
Maxillary: Pertaining to the upper jaw. (maxillary barbels).
Mesethmoid: Bone of skull separating the nasal cavities.
Nuchal: Area between the skull and dorsal fin.
Pectoral: The paired fins just behind the head.

Tatia: In honour of Mr. C. Tate Regan.
dunni: In honour of Emmett Reid Dunn (1894-1956), “in appreciation of his studies on Colombian herpetology”.

Photo Credits

© Yann Fulliquet
Map: Kmusser - Own work using Digital Chart of the World and GTOPO data.