Teleostei (teleosts) >
Siluriformes (Catfishes) >
Aspredinidae (Banjo catfishes) > Aspredininae
Etymology: Aspredinichthys: Latin, aspredo, asperitas = roughness + Greek, ichthys = fish (Ref. 45335).
More on author: Valenciennes.
Issue
See Mees (1987: 188) for detailed description.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; brackish; demersal. Tropical
Central and South America: lower portions of coastal rivers and in coastal waters from Venezuela to northern Brazil.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 24.3 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 80009); common length : 15.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 5217)
Benthic fish occurring mainly in brackish water. Found on soft bottoms of shallow turbid water near river mouths. The species has a peculiar mode of egg incubation wherein the female banjo catfish carries the eggs firmly attached to the underside of the body. This seems to be an adaptation to facilitate the oxygenation of the eggs in muddy environments. Reproduction takes place in March and June (Ref. 35381).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Female develops spongy tentacles on her belly during the breeding season and incubates her eggs by carrying them about attached to these tentacles.
Cervigón, F., R. Cipriani, W. Fischer, L. Garibaldi, M. Hendrickx, A.J. Lemus, R. Márquez, J.M. Poutiers, G. Robaina and B. Rodriguez, 1992. Fichas FAO de identificación de especies para los fines de la pesca. Guía de campo de las especies comerciales marinas y de aquas salobres de la costa septentrional de Sur América. FAO, Rome. 513 p. Preparado con el financiamento de la Comisión de Comunidades Europeas y de NORAD. (Ref. 5217)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-1)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: minor commercial; aquarium: commercial
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