Ossancora asterophysa Birindelli & Sabaj Pérez, 2011

Family:  Doradidae (Thorny catfishes), subfamily: Doradinae
Max. size:  16.8 cm TL (male/unsexed); max.weight: 62.0 g
Environment:  demersal; freshwater
Distribution:  South America: Amazonas basin in Bolivia, Brazil and Peru; Ilha do Marajó near the mouth of the rio Amazonas to laguna Yarinacocha, an oxbow lake connected to the río Ucayali; río Mamoré and upper Guaporé, Madeira drainage.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 2-2; Dorsal soft rays (total): 6-6. Can be diagnosed from Ossancora punctata by having maxillary barbel with elongate fimbriae inserted in two distinct rows along anterior margin, one dorsally and one ventrally, mental barbels with elongate fimbriae, and anterior nuchal plate reduced, diamond shaped, not sutured to epioccipital. Can be distinguished from Ossancora eigenmanni and Ossancora fimbriata by having the unique combination of gas bladder with numerous diverticula that are thin, moderately elongate (often branched), and grouped in roughly paired, small fascicles along the periphery of anterior face, shoulder and lateral walls of anterior chamber as well as lateral walls and posterior face of posterior chambers (vs. peripheral diverticula absent or few, restricted to anterolateral shoulder and sometimes anterior face of the anterior chamber in Ossancora eigenmanni; terminal diverticula lacking or indistinguishable from other peripheral diverticula (vs. short terminal diverticula present in Ossancora fimbriata; infranuchal plate not greatly expanded ventrally (vs. greatly expanded ventrally, reaching level of posterior coracoid process in adults in Ossancora fimbriata); nuchal foramina absent (vs. usually present, except in some large adults, in Ossancora fimbriata); less than 20 teeth per ramus on premaxilla and dentary (vs. 25-50 in Ossancora fimbriata); mental barbel with elongate fimbriae in single row (vs. two rows in Ossancora fimbriata) (Ref. 92411). Description: Anal fin iii-v, 8-10; pelvic fin i,6 (Ref. 92411).
Biology: 
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 05 August 2020 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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