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Megalonema amaxanthum Lundberg & Dahdul, 2008

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Description: Dorsal spines (total): 1; Dorsal soft rays (total): 7; Anal soft rays: 12 - 16; Vertebrae: 42 - 45. Total vertebrae including Weberian complex. Megalonema amaxanthum is a medium-sized pimelodid with a maximum length known to us of 106 mm SL. Dorsal profile of head and nape convex from snout tip to vertical at posterior nostril, then nearly straight to origin of dorsal fin, scarcely convex along dorsal-fin base, then less convex to posterior insertion of adipose fin, and gently concave across caudal peduncle. Ventral profile slanting convexly ventrally from snout tip to end of gill region, slightly convex to straight to pelvic-fin origin, abruptly stepped dorsad posterior to pelvic girdle, then straight or convex onto analfin base, slanting dorsally to caudal peduncle and slightly concave along caudal peduncle. Colouration: Head and body yellowish to tan in background colour. Top and upper sides of head and body lightly to moderately covered with small brownish chromatophores. Aquarium Care: A tank of at least 3ft x 18ins x 18ins with a medium water flow and weekly water changes. Diet: Wormfoods, shellfish and other meaty or insect-based foods. Remarks: For more information on this species and genera read the paper by Lundberg, J.G. and W.M. Dahdul, 2008 and the catfish book by Steven Grant (2021) on Pims which are referenced below.

Common Name:

None

Synonyms:

None

Family:

Pimelodidae

Distribution:

South America: Amazon River basin, Brazil, Guyana (Takutu River), Peru, Bolivia, and probably Colombia and Ecuador.

Size:

10.5cm. (4¼ins)

Temp:

22-27°C (71-81°F)

p.H.

6.0-7.2.

Reference:

Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors. 2018. FishBase. World Wide Web electronic publication. www.fishbase.org, ( 02/2018 ).
Grant, Steven. Pims. Pimelodidae, Heptapteridae and Pseudopimelodidae Catfishes. ATS-Aquashop.de 2021 219p.
Lundberg, J.G. and W.M. Dahdul, 2008. Two new cis-Andean species of the South American catfish genus Megalonema allied to trans-Andean Megalonema xantum, with description of a new subgenus (Siluriformes: Pimelodidae). Neotrop. Ichthyol. 6(3):439-454.

Family: Pimelodidae Back to Ident-A-Cat Click on Thumbnails

Megalonema amaxanthum

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