Teleostei (teleosts) >
Siluriformes (Catfishes) >
Heptapteridae (Three-barbeled catfishes)
Etymology: Rhamdia: Brazilian vernacular name, Nhamdia/Jamdia (Ref. 45335).
Eponymy: Abbé Florentin-Louis de Quélen de la Villeglée (d: 1762) was the chaplain on board the ‘Uranie’ circumnavigation expedition (1817–1820) commanded by Freycinet (q. [...] (Ref. 128868), visit book page.
More on authors: Quoy & Gaimard.
Issue
Junior synonym Rhamdia wagneri (Günther, 1868) is considered as a synonym of Rhamdia guatemalensis (Günther, 1864) in Ref. 108688:575; 108948.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; benthopelagic; pH range: ? - 7.0; depth range 0 - 3 m (Ref. 35381). Tropical; 22°C - 28°C (Ref. 2060)
Central and South America: Mexico to central Argentina.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 61.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 40637); max. published weight: 4.0 kg (Ref. 40637)
Occurs in littoral creeks, over sandy bottoms covered with dead leaves (Ref. 27188). Inhabits also lakes and rivers, but seems to prefer rivers with a very slight current (Ref. 6868). Prefers a muddy bottom covered with leaves and decaying wood, the latter providing for hiding places during the day (Ref. 35381). Feeds on fish and insects (Ref. 27188), benthic zooplankton and crustaceans (Ref. 35381). Omnivorous (Ref. 79585). Mainly nocturnal (Ref. 11225). Possesses poisonous spiny rays. Its sex ratio is 2:1 in favor of females. The male's reproductive apparatus includes multi-lobed testicles and accessory organs for secretion and storage. Fertilization is external. Non-sticking demersal eggs (1.1 to 2.8 mm diameter) are laid down, hatching after about 48 hours at 22°C. Ten days later, the larvae weigh approximately 100 mg but growth is slow (0.5 to 1.15 g per day).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Hernández, C.L., A. Ortega-Lara, G.C. Sánchez-Garcés, M.H. Alford, 2015. Genetic and morphometric evidence for the recognition of several recently synonymized species of Trans-Andean Rhamdia (Pisces: Siluriformes: Heptapteridae). Copeia 103(3):563-579. (Ref. 108688)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-1)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: minor commercial; aquaculture: commercial
Tools
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Internet sources
Estimates based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.5000 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.00912 (0.00783 - 0.01062), b=3.02 (2.98 - 3.06), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this species (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 3.9 ±0.3 se; based on diet studies.
Resilience (Ref.
120179): High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Fec=41,334).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Moderate vulnerability (44 of 100).
Nutrients (Ref.
124155): Calcium = 91.5 [50.5, 198.1] mg/100g; Iron = 1.02 [0.58, 1.80] mg/100g; Protein = 16.5 [15.4, 17.6] %; Omega3 = 0.239 [0.098, 0.592] g/100g; Selenium = 51.7 [20.4, 122.1] μg/100g; VitaminA = 55.8 [19.4, 147.0] μg/100g; Zinc = 1.55 [1.06, 2.24] mg/100g (wet weight);