| Family: |
Trichomycteridae (Pencil or parasitic catfishes), subfamily: Trichomycterinae |
| Max. size: |
6.83 cm SL (male/unsexed) |
| Environment: |
benthopelagic; freshwater; pH range: 7.9 |
| Distribution: |
South America: single subterranean stream inside the Lapa do Sumidouro Cave in Brazil. |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal soft rays (total): 9-9; Anal soft rays: 6-6; Vertebrae: 37-38. Can be differentiated from both epigean and cave congeners by the combination of the following features: absence of posterior fontanel (except for Ituglanis epikarsticus and Ituglanis macunaima; usually i7 pectoral-fin rays (except for Ituglanis bambui, Ituglanis passensis and Ituglanis epikarsticus; 6 pleural ribs (except for Ituglanis bambui, Ituglanis parahybae and Ituglanis ramiroi; total vertebrae 37-38 behind Weberian apparatus (except for Ituglanis bambui. Ituglanis laticeps and Ituglanis macunaima; predorsal length 65.1-70.8% in SL (except for Ituglanis bambui); caudal peduncle length 8.4-11.9% in SL; dorsal-fin base length 7.7-11.3% in SL; interobital width 29.2-36.5% in HL (except for the cave species); mouth width 43.4-64.0% in HL (except for Ituglanis bambui; pigmentation intermediary between epigean and cave Ituglanis species, composed by irregular light brown spots along the body; variable size of eyes and intermediate between those of epigean and formerly described cave-restricted congeners, with diameter in adults ranging from 0.5-1.0 mm (7.8-10.0% in HL) (except for Ituglanis cahyensis. Other diagnostic characters include presence of discrete medial-posterior projection on the maxillae; fronto-lacrimal one half-length of the maxillae and pointed backwards; posterior process of palatine half its length, with a tenuous medial concavity; 14 dorsal and 12 ventral procurrent rays (Ref. 75008).
Description: Dorsal fin ii,7; Anal fin i5; Pectoral fin i7; Pelvic fin i4 (Ref. 75008). |
| Biology: |
Found in subterranean stream inside the cave with slow to fast-moving-waters, 10-90 cm deep on average, and bottom composed basically of sand, silt, some gravels and boulders. Occurs solitarily with swimming activity on the bottom and sometimes in the midwater. Exhibits cryptobiotic habits, hiding intro the gravels and under boulders when disturbed, and showing a negative response to carbide and flashlight. Prefers slow-moving pools (Ref. 75008). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Critically Endangered (CR); Date assessed: 18 May 2022 (B2ab(iii)) Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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