Classification / Names
Common names | Synonyms | Catalog of Fishes(genus, species) | ITIS | CoL | WoRMS | Cloffa
Teleostei (teleosts) >
Siluriformes (Catfishes) >
Trichomycteridae (Pencil or parasitic catfishes) > Trichomycterinae
Etymology: Trichomycterus: Greek, thrix = hair + Greek, mykter, -eros = nose (Ref. 45335); belensis: Named for its type locality, Departamento Belén..
More on authors: Fernández & Vari.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; benthopelagic. Tropical
South America: Laguna Blanca basin in Argentina.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 6.4 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 43677)
Short description
Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics
Dorsal soft rays (total): 11 - 13; Anal soft rays: 9 - 10; Vertebrae: 36 - 39. Oval premaxilla smaller than the maxilla. Pelvic fins with associated pelvic girdle. Branched dorsal fin rays 7-8. Ribs 15-17. Caudal peduncle compressed. The region anteroventral to the dorsal fin origin unpigmented. Head and body lack the very thick, rugose layer of fatty tissue. Lacks extensive perforation on the skin's surface by ampullary organs (Ref. 43677).
Collected from a small, clear water stream, at approximately 3,500 m elevation and 0.5 m deep, running over a sandy bottom and with marginal vegetation limited to grasses. Stomach contents include dipteran larvae (Chironomidae and Simuliidae), coleopterans (Elmidae), trichopterans, and plecopterans (Perlidae) (Ref. 43677).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturities | Reproduction | Spawnings | Egg(s) | Fecundities | Larvae
Fernández, L. and R.P. Vari, 2002. New species of Trichomycterus from the Andes of Argentina with a redescription of Trichomycterus alterus (Siluriformes: Trichomycteridae). Copeia 2002(3):739-747. (Ref. 43677)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
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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=0.00977 (0.00319 - 0.02993), b=3.02 (2.77 - 3.27), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this (Sub)family-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 3.2 ±0.40 se; based on food items.
Resilience (Ref.
120179): Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (Assuming Fec < 100).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low vulnerability (10 of 100).