Calle
Velez, Juan Cristóbal (1) Donald
Taphorn (2)
ScotCat
Sources:
Other
Sources:
Relevant
Information:
Habitat:
It is a predominantly nocturnal species, during the
day it hides in caves or under fallen sticks. It inhabits
heterogeneous backgrounds; sand, pebble, rock and
mud; fast and moderate flow waters not very deep (0.3-0.9
m.) and abrupt and excavated margins with riparian
and riverine vegetation Presence of abundant periphyton
and allochthonous material. Sexual Differences:
Males have better colour, a broader head and lips
and adult males possess longer ventral fins than the
females. Aquarium Care: Will need
a good water flow in the aquarium with a sand substrate
and plenty of hiding places. The Chaetostoma
species are not the easiest to maintain as the mountain
stream species will need a water current to provide
oxygen-rich water. 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. Etymology: The genus
name Chaetostoma: chaeto-, bristle; stoma,
mouth, referring to the bristles on cheeks of males.
The specific name fischeri: in honour of
Steindachner’s “dear friend” (translation)
W. Fischer, who provided a collection of river fishes
from Panama, including type of this species. Remarks:
Chaetostoma fischeri is currently thought
to have a broad that ranges from eastern Panama southward
to northwestern Colombia. Extent of Occurrence (EOO)
is estimated to be 97,783 km2. Total population size
and population trend have not been quantified, but
limited ichthyological surveys suggest that this species
is uncommon throughout much of its range. A number
of localised and regional threats exist, including
land-use change and deforestation associated with
agricultural expansion, widespread artisanal and commercial
mining operations, and pollution from industrial and
domestic waste water discharge. While existing threats
are likely to be producing localised negative impacts
on habitat availability and quality, there is currently
no indication of major range-wide population declines.
Therefore, C. fischeri is assessed as Least
Concern. Continuing taxonomic work on the species
will likely lead to further shrinking of the range
of the species and subsequent reassessment will be
required (IUCN 2020).
Common
Name:
None
Synonyms:
Chaetostomus fischeri
Family:
Loricariidae
Distribution:
South America: Colombia, Ecuador and Panama. Type
locality: Mamoni River, near Chepo in the
Isthmus of Panama.
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