Microcambeva ribeirae Costa, Lima & Bizerril, 2004

Family:  Trichomycteridae (Pencil or parasitic catfishes), subfamily: Microcambevinae
Max. size:  4.81 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  demersal; freshwater
Distribution:  South America: Rio Ribeira do Iguape basin in southeastern Brazil.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal soft rays (total): 9-9; Anal soft rays: 8-8; Vertebrae: 34-34. Differs from M. barbata in having short nasal barbels reaching just behind posterior nostril; eye positioned on posterior half of head; first pectoral-fin ray shorter than posterior ones, its tip not forming a distinct filament; anal fin origin posterior of vertical through base of last dorsal-fin ray; posteriormost pore of each supraorbital canal united in the midline, composing a single median pore; frontal elongated anteriorly; fontanel not extending anteriorly beyond posteriormost supraorbital pore; anterior portion of sphenotic with a prominent lateral process; anterior palatine ossification absent; posterior process of palatine elongate, about 60% of palatine bony portion without posterior process; and supraorbital bone elongate, about three times as long as lacrimal (Ref. 53272). Description: Dorsal-fin rays 9 (ii, 6, i); anal-fin rays 8 (iii, 4, i); pectoral fin rays 7 (i, 6); pelvic-fin rays 5 (i, 4) (Ref. 53272).
Biology:  Occurs in clear, shallow streams (about 60 cm deep), with a gray sandy bottom, where some specimens were found entirely buried, except for snout and barbels (Ref. 53272).
IUCN Red List Status: Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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