Aguarunichthys torosus STEWART, 1986

Bolt Catfish, Stier-Antennenwelse (DE)

Etymology

Aguarunichthys: in reference to the Aguaruna, an indigenous people of the Peruvian jungle who primarily live on the Marañón River in northern Peru near the border with Ecuador, plus the Greek ichthýs (Gr. ἰχθύς), meaning ‘fish’.

torosus: from the Latin torosus, meaning ‘muscular, brawny’, in reference to this species’ stout body shape.

Classification

Order: Siluriformes Family: Pimelodidae

Distribution

This species is known only from the Río Marañón in the upper Amazon basin, Peru, and probably occurs in some tributaries draining into Peru from Ecuador.

Type locality is ‘Río Cenepa, Departo. Amazonas, Peru, about 4°28’S, 78°10’W, elevation about 210 meters’.

Maximum Standard Length

The largest specimen known measured 346 mm.

Diet

An obligate predator feeding on other fishes in nature, but quality dried foods are normally accepted in captivity.

It should also be offered meaty fare such as strips of white fish, live earthworms, shrimp, etc., for optimal health.

Adult individuals are unlikely to require feeding on a daily basis with 2-3 meals per week sufficient.

Behaviour and CompatibilityTop ↑

This species will eat fishes small enough to fit in its capacious mouth and is aggressively territorial towards conspecifics so is best-maintained as a single specimen in a community of larger, ideally fluvial, species.

NotesTop ↑

This species is also traded as ‘Jello Band’ or ‘Yellow Band’ catfish.

References

1. Ferraris, C. J., Jr., 2007 - Zootaxa 1418: 1-628
   Checklist of catfishes, recent and fossil (Osteichthyes: Siluriformes), and catalogue of siluriform primary types.
2. Reis, R. E., S. O. Kullander and C. J. Ferraris, Jr. (eds)., 2003 - EDIPUCRS, Porto Alegre: i-xi + 1-729
   Check list of the freshwater fishes of South and Central America. CLOFFSCA.