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Ivan Sazima (2)

Description: Dorsal spines (total): 2; Dorsal soft rays (total): 6; Anal soft rays: 11 - 13; Vertebrae: 43. Distinguished by the following combination of characters: small dots irregularly placed (forming 8-9 rows) and most developed in the anterior two thirds of body; the mouth with thick striated lips; an enlarged posterior branch of the dorsal premaxillary process synchondrally articulated with the lateroanterior margin of mesethmoid; a right-angled posterolateral margin of mesethmoid; the exposed centra of the 7th vertebrae; and a large pharyngobranchial 3 with a well developed dorsal crest. Differs from P. fur in possessing more gill rakers on the first arch (19-22 vs. 16-18) and a wider mouth (32.0-35.1% HL vs. 24.6--30); and from P. absconditus in having a larger interorbital distance (22.2-29.2% HL vs. 18.6-22.7), a relatively smaller ratio between orbital diameter and interorbital width (70.8-115.0 vs. 104.1-148.9); a shallower body (19.0-24.5% SL vs. 21.6-26.9), a shorter head (25.8-28.9% SL vs. 27.5-30.8), a smaller predorsal length (36.2-39.9% SL vs. 38.7-42.9) and a smaller prepelvic length (47.4-51.0% SL vs. 49.3-53.1). Vomerine tooth plates occasionally develop in P. heroldi while they are always present in P. absconditus and absent in P. fur. Aquarium Care: Should not be kept with smaller species. In saying that they should be non problematic in the aquarium with same size or larger tank mates such as barbs, gouramies, cichlids and other South American catfish in a large mature tank. Provide plant cover and hiding places to make them feel more secure in their surroundings. Diet: Will eat most prepared foods such as tablet, pellet and frozen foods. Etymology: The specific name microstoma: micro-, small; stoma, mouth, referring to small mouth compared to most Amazonian congeners. Remarks: Very rare in the hobby and despite the little information available on this species, it has a wide range and no apparent threats. Therefore, it is assessed as Least Concern (IUCN 2020).

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Pimelodidae

South America: Upper Paraná River basin (São Paulo, Brazil). Type Locality: Brazil, von Irisanga, Rio branco und Barra do Rio negro.

33.0cm. (13¼ins)

22-25°C (71-77°F)

6.5-7.0.

Azpelicueta, M.M., 2001. a new species of Pimelodus (Siluriformes: Pimelodidae) from the upper Paraná basin, Brazil. Ichthyol. Explor. Freshwat. 12(3):193-200.
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. 2024. FishBase. World Wide Web electronic publication. www.fishbase.org, (07/2024).
Lundberg, J.G. and M.W. Littmann, 2003. Pimelodidae (Long-whiskered catfishes). p. 432-446. 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.
Salvador, G.N. 2023. Pimelodus microstoma. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2023.