Corydoras bondi

Corydoras: from the Ancient Greek κόρυς (korus), meaning 'helmet', and δορά (dora), meaning 'skin, hide of an animal', in allusion to the rows of bony plates on the flanks of genus members.

bondi: named for Dr. Franklyn F. Bond.

Type locality is 'Río Yuruari, 3 kilometers east of El Callao, 7°18'N, 61°50'W, Bolivar, Venezuela', and this species is also known from the Rupununi River drianage in Guyana and the Courantyne/Corantijn system in Suriname.

The Yuruari, an affluent of the Río Cuyuni, and Rupununi are both tributaries within the larger Essequibo watershed.

Ideally use a substrate of fine sand, although rounded gravel is an acceptable alternative provided it's kept scrupulously clean.

Other décor is largely down to personal choice, but some cover should be provided to give the fish security.

Corydoras spp. are foraging omnivores and will accept most sinking dried foods, as well as small live and frozen varieties such as bloodworm, Tubifex, etc.

Feeding a varied diet will ensure the fish are in optimum condition.

Under no circumstances should they be expected to survive on 'left-overs' from other inhabitants of the aquarium or relied on to 'clean' the aquarium.

Peaceful and gregarious. Should be maintained in a group of at least 4-6 individuals.

Females tend to grow larger, and sexually mature individuals are noticeably rounder and higher-bodied than males.

This species was once considered common in the aquarium hobby but this may not be the case with many of the fish traded being the similar-looking congeners C. sipaliwini or C. coppenamensis.

When describing C. bondi Gosline (1940) noted the following: 'Ground colour yellowish. Sides with a median trilineate pattern formed of a central dark stripe bordered on either side by an unpigmented band, these in turn delimited by the brown spotting of the remainder of the body. Central stripe extending from the fourth scute to the caudal, becoming more intense posteriorly. All three bands about equal to the diameter of the eye in width. Head darker than body, with rather indefinite markings. Fins also without definite markings, except that there may be small spots on the central caudal rays of some specimens.'

In C. sipaliwini the dark spots on the body are relatively larger, there is a prominent dark marking on the first few dorsal-fin rays and the caudal-fin contains rows of dark spots, while in C. coppenamensis base body colour is more orangish and the dark dorsolateral spots more distinct.

The genus Corydoras is among the largest catfish groups and currently contains over 150 valid species.

It is included in the family Callichthyidae, of which members are often referred to collectively as 'armoured' or 'mailed' catfishes group due to the presence of bony plates in place of scales on the body.

Their taxonomy can be confusing, and numerous undescribed species are also thought to exist.

Fish of unconfirmed identification entering the aquarium hobby are therefore typically assigned a 'C' or 'CW' number for purposes of reference and organisation.

They are facultative air breathers and possess a modified, highly vascularised intestine which has evolved to facilitate uptake of atmospheric oxygen and aid survival in oxygen-deprived environments. In the aquarium you'll occasionally see them rising to the surface to take in gulps of air.

The stiffened pectoral-fin spines are capable of piercing human skin and a 'sting' can be very painful indeed, so care should be exercised when handling them.

It is thought that secretions from the axillary glands at the base of each spine may even be mildly toxic or venomous.