Classification / Names
Common names | Synonyms | Catalog of Fishes(genus, species) | ITIS | CoL | WoRMS | Cloffa
Teleostei (teleosts) >
Siluriformes (Catfishes) >
Heptapteridae (Three-barbeled catfishes)
Etymology: Pimelodella: Diminutive latinized of greek, pimele = fat + Greek, odous, odella = little teeth (Ref. 45335); spelaea: Name from latin 'speleum', for cave or cavern, referring to its habitat; an adjective..
More on authors: Trajano, Reis & Bichuette.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; demersal. Tropical
South America: Brazil.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 8.1 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 55501)
Short description
Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics
This species is distinguished in having smaller eyes (eyeball diameter 19-21.3% HL) and possessing fainter coloration with reduced lateral dark band as compared to its congeners; pectoral fin with 10 branched rays; weakly developed serrae in the posterior margin of the dorsal-fin spine (vs. well developed in P. laurentii); and, lacking the dorsal dark stripe along dorsal and anterior adipose fins (vs. presence in P. avanhandavae (Ref. 55501).
Collected mainly in soft-bottomed pools with very slow current, averaging 1.5 m deep, 5 m above the mainstream level. Individuals were observed calmly swimming near the bottom, in the midwater and near the surface. Elusive fishes and apparently photophobic (Ref. 55501).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturities | Reproduction | Spawnings | Egg(s) | Fecundities | Larvae
Reproductive mode and guild assumed to be the same as congeners (Ref. 56810).
Trajano, E., R.E. Reis and M.E. Bichuette, 2004. Pimelodella spelaea: a new cave catfish from central Brazil, with data on ecology and evolutionary considerations (Siluriformes: Heptapteridae). Copeia 2004(2):315-325. (Ref. 55501)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435)
Threat to humans
Harmless
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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=0.00832 (0.00383 - 0.01808), b=2.97 (2.80 - 3.14), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this Genus-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 3.4 ±0.5 se; based on size and trophs of closest relatives
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low vulnerability (10 of 100).