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); megantoni: The specific name, megantoni, is in reference to Santuario Nacional Machiguenga Megantoni, where the type locality is situated.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; pelagic; depth range 0 - 2 m (Ref. 58750). Tropical; 12°C - 16°C (Ref. 58750)
Trichomycterus megantoni has been collected at several localities from southeastern Perú at
the Santuario Nacional Machiguenga Megantoni: Quebrada Earoto, elevation 2,100 m, Quebrada Matzonzori, elevation 2,200 m, Quebrada Patiti, elevation 2,200 m, and Quebrada Morro Leguia, km 135, in Paucartambo, Cusco. The region is characterized by torrential hydrological conditions associated with abundant summer rains between January and March and by a dry season between May and November (Ref. 58750).
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 10.1 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 58750)
Short description
Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics
Trichomycterus megantoni is readily distinguished from all other members of the subfamily Trichomycterinae from southern South America by having autapomorphic interopercle thickened integument and the presence of foramen frontal-supraoccipital reduced. It is further distinguished from other congeners, with the exception of T. pseudosilvinichthys (Fernández & Vari) and T. yuska (Fernández & Schaefer), by the unique combination of the following features: tip of the pelvic fin when depressed not reaching the anus, premaxillae rectangle, first dorsal fin pterygiophore insertion at or posterior to vertebra 19 to 21,
17 or 19 pairs of ribs on each side, and 37 to 40 vertebrae. T. megantoni can be distinguished from T. yuska and T. pseudosilvinichthys by the presence of a supraorbital canal with pore 3, and an outer tooth row with conic teeth (versus absence pore 3 and distally narrowing incisiform teeth Fernández & Schaefer, 2003; Fernández & Vari, 2004). In addition, the new species is distinguished from T. yuska by head muscles that are not hypertrophied and 17 pairs of ribs on each side (versus head and cheek musculature hypertrophied and 18 or 19 ribs Fernández & Schaefer, 2003); from T. pseudosilvinichthys by the first pectoral fin ray prolonged as thin short filament (versus first pectoral fin ray terminating at the margin of the fin Fernández & Vari, 2004).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Fernández, L. and R.Q. Chuquihuamaní, 2007. A new species of Trichomycterus (Siluriformes: Trichomycteridae) from the Andean Cordillera of Perú, with comments on relationships within the genus. Zootaxa 1545:49-57. (Ref. 58750)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-2)
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=0.00851 (0.00358 - 0.02025), b=2.93 (2.74 - 3.12), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this Genus-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 3.2 ±0.4 se; based on size and trophs of closest relatives
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low vulnerability (10 of 100).
