Colouration:
Larger adult specimens above about 50 mm SL: flank
and dorsum light brownish yellow, with three longitudinal
rows of round black spots, one along the dorsum midline,
one along the flank midline, and one on the dorsal
part of flank; black rows frequently united by melanophores
to form longitudinal stripe. Melanophores are concentrated
on the flank area just posterior and above the pectoral-fin
base for black humeral blotch. No distinctive black
spots on the zone below the lateral midline posterior
to humeral blotch, but melanophores are weakly dispersed
on the ventral portion of the caudal peduncle. Venter
yellowish white. The headlight is brownish yellow,
with superficial melanophores scattered over lateral
and dorsal surfaces, more concentrated above the opercle
and interopercle and between nares; orangish yellow
pigmentation concentrated around the orbit, snout,
and below opercle; transverse series of short black
lines on a postero-ventral portion of interopercle.
The barbel’s are grey, and nasal barbels are
darker. Iris bluish silver. Fins hyaline with dark
yellow bases impregnated with superficial melanophores.
Specimens between about 30 and 50 mm SL: similar to
larger specimens, except for the presence of rows
of bluish silver spots alternated with black spots.
Juvenile specimens between about 15 and 30 mm SL:
flank and dorsum light grey, with three black stripes,
one along the dorsum midline, one along the flank
midline, and one on the dorsal part of the flank.
Venter white. The lateral and ventral portions of
the head are light grey, the dorsal portion is black.
Nasal barbel dark grey, maxillary, and rictal barbels
white. Iris bluish silver. Fins hyaline, (Costa et
al. 2022). Habitat:Presently
known from a single locality in the Rio Roncador,
a tributary of Lagoa de Saquarema, at about 90 m asl.
substrate, whereas the few larger specimens were found
buried in the muddy substrate. The area is situated
in a mosaic of original forest remnants and lands
used for agricultural purposes, (Costa et al. 2022).
Diet: Will feed on most aquarium
fare such as tablet, frozen and live foods. It is
an opportunistic predator that mainly feeds on insects,
but also will take small crustaceans and plant material
(algae and remains of phanerogams). Etymology:
The name saquarema refers to the occurrence of the
new species in the Lagoa de Saquarema system. The
word saquarema is derived from the Tupi-Guarani, but
its meaning is not clear.
Common
Name:
None
Synonyms:
None
Family:
Trichomycteridae
Distribution:
South America:Rio Roncador drainage, Paraíba do
Sul River basin, Rio de Janeiro State, south-eastern
Brazil. Type Locality: Presently
known from a single locality in the Rio Roncador,
a tributary of Lagoa de Saquarema, at about 90 m asl.
Size:
5.5cm. (2¼ins)
Temp:
24-27°c (75-81°f.)
p.H.
6.0-7.0.
Reference:
Barbosa, M.A. and W.J.E.M.
Costa, 2012. Trichomycterus puriventris (Teleostei:
Siluriformes: Trichomycteridae), a new species of
catfish from the rio Paraíba do Sul basin,
southeastern Brazil. Verteb. Zool. 62(2):155-160.
Costa, W.J.E.M.; Mattos, J.L.; Vilardo, P.J.; Amorim,
P.F.; Katz, A.M. Perils of Underestimating
Species Diversity: Revisiting Systematics of Psammocambeva
Catfishes (Siluriformes: Trichomycteridae) from the
Rio Paraíba do Sul Basin, South-Eastern Brazil
†. Taxonomy 2022. 2, 491-523.
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