Tatia meesi Sarmento-Soares & Martins-Pinheiro, 2008

Family:  Auchenipteridae (Driftwood catfishes), subfamily: Centromochlinae
Max. size:  4.66 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  demersal; freshwater
Distribution:  South America: Essequibo basin, Guyana.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 1-1; Dorsal soft rays (total): 5-5; Anal soft rays: 10-10; Vertebrae: 34-34. Diagnosed from congeners by having the following unique characters: color of dorsal surface of body, back and upper sides dark-brown sometimes with depigmented area around adipose fin; cranial fontanel with two narrow openings, anterior one between mesethmoid and frontal and posterior one limited to frontal; and fontanel apertures are separated from each other through an orbitosphenoid suture beneath frontal. Can be also separated from its congeners by possessing the following combination of characteristics: nasal ossified as tube, with narrow lateral flange not sutured to mesethmoid; pectoral fin I,4; caudal-fin lobes are the same length in both adult females and males; and smaller adult size, less than 5.0 cm SL (Ref. 79512). Description: A iii,7; V i+5. Post -Weberian vertebrae 34 (Ref. 79512).
Biology:  The type locality is characterized by fast flowing water over huge boulders. Found in large pool and backwater area with a substrate of sand, gravel and rubble over bedrock (Ref. 79512).
IUCN Red List Status: Vulnerable (VU); Date assessed: 31 July 2020 (B1ab(ii,iii)) Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless
Country info:   
 


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