| Trichomycteridae (Pencil or parasitic catfishes), subfamily: Trichomycterinae |
| 6.41 cm SL (male/unsexed) |
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demersal; freshwater |
| South America: subterranean waters in at least two caves of the same cave system in the Serra do Ramalho karst area, middle São Francisco River basin, Brazil: Lapa dos Peixes and Gruna da Água Clara. |
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Dorsal soft rays (total): 9-9; Anal soft rays: 7-7. Can be easily distinguished from epigean and most hypogean congeners by three distinctive, non-exclusive characters: highly reduced skin pigmentation (except for Trichomycterus gorgona and cave-restricted congeners, Trichomycterus chaberti, Trichomycterus itacarambiensis, Trichomycterus spelaeus, Trichomycterus sandovali, Trichomycterus santanderensis, Trichomycterus uisae and Trichomycterus dali); reduced eyes, visible externally as small black or reddish-brown spots (except for Trichomycterus gorgona and the hypogean Trichomycterus chaberti, Trichomycterus itacarambiensis, Trichomycterus santanderensis, Trichomycterus uisae and Trichomycterus sketi); and barbels long, especially nasal (86.9-127.1% of HL) and maxillary (98.1-129.3% of HL) (except for Trichomycterus longibarbatus and the hypogean Trichomycterus spelaeus, Trichomycterus santanderensis, Trichomycterus uisae, Trichomycterus sketi and Trichomycterus dali). These characters, in combination, separate this species from all hypogean congeners except for Trichomycterus santanderensis and Trichomycterus uisae. Further differs from almost all congeners, including Trichomycterus santanderensis and Trichomycterus uisae (except for Trichomycterus hualco, Trichomycterus sketi and Trichomycterus dali) by having I, 9 pectoral-fin rays (Ref. 91769). |
| Occurs in limestone caves. Found concentrated in places with the bottom formed by clay and small blocks of limestone, usually hiding under these blocks and inside crevices in the walls, thereby allowing a strong cryptobiotic habit. When not hidden, this species prefers to stay on the bottom and on walls (rcky and silt substrate) with occasional incursions into the midwater and surface. Inhabits water bodies formed by infiltration in the rock, and, because of this, it must be considered fragile and as a priority in conservation programs of Brazilian karstic areas (Ref. 91769). |
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Endangered (EN); Date assessed: 07 November 2018 (B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii)) Ref. (130435)
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| harmless |
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