Trichomycterus cachiraensis Ardila Rodríguez, 2008

Family:  Trichomycteridae (Pencil or parasitic catfishes), subfamily: Trichomycterinae
Max. size:  10.9 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  benthopelagic; freshwater
Distribution:  South America: Colombia.
Diagnosis:  This species differs from its congeners by the following characters: anterior fontanel variably absent; posterior fontanel reduced to a small circular foramen and entirely located on the parieto-supraoccipital (Ref. 83636).
Biology:  The rivers where the species was captured is of crystalline waters, with huge stones and sandy bottom. Temperature at the time of the collection is 17ºC. This species is associated with Astroblepus sp. One individual has 138 mature ova. Stomach contents include small shrimps and larvae of macroinvertebrates. The forest comprise of plants like the eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globulus), willow (Salix humboldtiana), Rubus floribundus and pine (Cupressus lusitanica) (Ref. 83636).
IUCN Red List Status: Near Threatened (NT); Date assessed: 10 October 2014 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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