Description:
Hypostomus taphorni can be distinguished
from all other members of the H. cochliodon
group by the combination of having a bicolored caudal
fin (light above, dark below) and small spots on the
abdomen. Some specimens tentatively identified as
H.
plecostomoides
from northern Bolivar State, Venezuela, have a bicoloured
caudal fin, but have medium to large spots on the
abdomen. Placed in the Hypostomus cochliodon
species group which have a shorter body and more high
backed than other members of the Hypostomus.
They have a small number of spatulate teeth with a
single cusp with the jaws arranged in a V shape. Sexual
Differences: Males grow larger and sport
longer fins. Aquarium Care: Adults
are rather intolerent towards other large Loricariid
catfishes. Will give out a lot of waste in the aquarium
so frequent water changes are a must. Fairly easy
to keep in a larger tank over 4ft (120cm). Diet:
Wood eaters so would need soft wood in the aquarium.
Food tablets, pellets and vegeatable foods are also
taken along with insect larvae. Remarks:
Redescribed and included in Hypostomus cochliodon
species group in Armbruster (2003a).
Common
Name:
None
Synonyms:
Cochliodon taphorni
Family:
Loricariidae
Distribution:
South America:
Cuyuni River basin, Essequibo drainage, Venezuela
(Armbruster, 2003a), Rupununi River and Takutu River
basins, Guyana (Armbruster & de Souza, 2005).
Type locality: Río Botanamo,
cerca del puente en la vía a Bochinche, Edo,
Bolívar, Venezuela.
Size:
23.0cm. (9ins)
Temp:
24-27°c (75-81°f)
p.H.
6.0-7.5.
Reference:
Armbruster W. Jonathan;
2003. The species of the Hypostomus cochliodon group
(Siluriformes: Loricariidae) Zootaxa 249: 1-60 (2003). Ferraris, C.J. Jr.,
2007. Checklist of catfishes, recent and fossil (Osteichthyes:
Siluriformes), and catalogue of siluriform primary
types. Zootaxa 1418:1-628. Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors.
2015. FishBase. World Wide Web electronic publication.
www.fishbase.org, ( 11/2017 ). Weber, C., 2003. Loricariidae - Hypostominae
(Armored catfishes). p. 351-372. 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.
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