Teleostei (teleosts) >
Siluriformes (Catfishes) >
Cetopsidae (Whale catfishes) > Helogeninae
Etymology: Helogenes: Greek, helo = marsh + Greek, gene, genes = birth, race. (Helo has the "e" short) (Ref. 45335).
More on author: Günther.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; demersal; pH range: 6.0 - 7.0; dH range: ? - 15. Tropical; 22°C - 26°C (Ref. 2059)
South America: Atlantic drainages of Guyana, Suriname, and French Guiana, upper Río Orinoco and Río Negro systems in Venezuela, and Amazon Basin in Brazil, Peru, and Ecuador.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 7.9 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 101566)
A typical inhabitant of black or clear waters, usually in forest streams with moderate to swift current flow over firm sand or gravel bottoms (Ref. 7462). Lives hidden under plants, litter or plant debris. Can easily be mistaken as a piece of dead wood when it rests on its side, motionless on the bottom. Often swims on one side in undulating movements (Ref. 35381). Feeds mainly on terrestrial insects, particularly ants (Ref. 7462). Nocturnal (Ref. 6868).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Vari, R.P. and H. Ortega, 1986. The catfishes of the neotropical Family Helogenidae (Ostariophysi: Siluroidei). Smith. Contrib. Zool. (442):20 p. (Ref. 7462)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-1)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: of no interest
Tools
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Internet sources
Estimates based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.5625 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.00513 (0.00200 - 0.01317), b=3.14 (2.92 - 3.36), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this (Sub)family-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 3.5 ±0.50 se; based on food items.
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low vulnerability (10 of 100).
