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Vandellia sanguinea Eigenmann, 1917

Image contributors to this species:

Danté Fenolio (2) Erlend D Bertelsen (1) Ivan Sazima (1)

ScotCat Sources:

Other Sources:

Relevant Information:

The Vandellia genera are hematophagous (consume blood) parasites, and like all other members of the subfamily Vandelliinae. V. sanguinea uses visual and chemo-sensory orientation to find potential hosts. It is active both during the daytime and night time while foraging. There are 3 described species in this genera, V. cirrhosa, (Amazon River basin.) V. beccarii (from the Orinoco River basin and rivers of Guyana) and V. sanguinea (from the Amazon, Orinoco and Essequibo River basins). V. cirrosa seems to be the more common species of the Candiru. This is the species that has gained a fearsome reputation for entering the gill chambers of larger fishes and feeding on the blood from the gills. Probably the most disturbing habit is entering the urogenital openings of mammals, including human bathers in the water. It will lock its opercular and interopercular spines and has to be surgically removed from its intended victim. Aquarium Care: Not easy to keep and would need to be housed on their own as larger fish would be preyed upon for their blood in the gill chambers. Sand is the best substrate for digging themselves into and floating plants to cut the light down for this light sensitive species. Diet: Very difficult as all reports seem to intimate that they need larger fish to feed on. Etymology: The specific name sanguinea: Latin for blood-red or bloody; a hematophagous species described as “translucent,” but Eigenmann later noted (1918) how the alimentary canal was “gorged with blood,” so perhaps it appears blood-red after having eaten.

Common Name:

None

Synonyms:

None

Family:

Trichomycteridae

Distribution:

South America: Amazon, Orinoco and Essequibo River basins. Type locality: San Antonio de Rio Madeira.

Size:

8.5cm (3½ins)

Temp:

23-26°c (73-79°f.)

p.H.

6.0-7.0.

Reference:

de Pínna, M.C.C. and W. Wosiacki, 2003. Trichomycteridae (pencil or parasitic catfishes). p. 270-290. 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.
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. 2014. FishBase. World Wide Web electronic publication. www.fishbase.org, ( 11/2014 ).

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

Vandellia sanguinea

Vandellia sanguinea
Dorsal view

Vandellia sanguinea
From the Rio Meta

Vandellia sanguinea

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