Description:
When Chaetostoma carrioni was first described,
by J.R. Norman in 1935, it was placed in its own genus
– Lipopterichthys – based on
its lack of adipose and anal fins. As these two individuals
from the same locality in Ecuador's Zamora-Santiago
drainage illustrate, however, these characteristics
are variable within the species, with most individuals
showing some degree of fin reduction, but only a few
completely lacking both fins. The genus Lipopterichthys
continued to be recognised as recently as 2014, but
a 2015 redescription of the species and molecular
phylogeny of Chaetostoma by myself and colleagues
provided robust evidence for its nested position within
this genus. Indeed, it is closely related to the sympatric
and similar (but fully-finned) species Chaetostoma
microps (Lujan
2021). Aquarium Care: The Chaetostoma
species are not the easiest to maintain as the mountain
stream species will need a water current to provide
oxygen-rich water. The species that are exported usually
originate from warmer waters so are a bit easier to
keep than the mountain stream variety. Diet:
Great algae eater, but you will have to subsidise
this food with algae wafers and vegetable foods such
as cucumber, zucchini and lettuce. Will also except
tablet and worm foods. Sexual Differences:
Males have better colour, a broader head and lips
and adult males possess longer ventral fins than the
females. Remarks:
Still listed in Fishbase as the synonym, Lipopterichthyscarrioni.
Common
Name:
None
Synonyms:
Lipopterichthys carrioni
Family:
Loricariidae
Distribution:
South America:
Marañon River basin, Ecuador. Type
locality: The Zamora River, near Loja, Ecuador.
Size:
8.0cm. (3¼ins)
Temp:
20-22°c (67-71°f.)
p.H.
6.0-7.5.
Reference:
Ferraris, C.J. Jr.,
2007. Checklist of catfishes, recent and fossil (Osteichthyes:
Siluriformes), and catalogue of siluriform primary
types. Zootaxa 1418:1-628. Lujan, N.K., Meza-Vargas, V., Astudillo-Clavijo,
V., Barriga-Salazar, R. & López-Fernández,
H. (2015): A Multilocus Molecular Phylogeny
for Chaetostoma Clade Genera and Species with a Review
of Chaetostoma (Siluriformes: Loricariidae) from the
Central Andes. Copeia, 103 (3): 664-701. Lujan, Nathan. Facebook post 2021. Seidel, I.
2008. Back to Nature guide to L-catfishes, Ettlingen,
Germany 208 p.
If you would like to contribute to the monthly
factsheets with an article, information or photos, please e-mail
me. You will of course be credited for your work.
If you would like to donate any denomination
of monies to the site just click the above link button. All proceeds
will go to running the site and hopefully to keep it going for a few
years yet.