Trichomycterus macrophthalmus Barbosa & Costa, 2012

Family:  Trichomycteridae (Pencil or parasitic catfishes), subfamily: Trichomycterinae
Max. size:  6 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  demersal; freshwater
Distribution:  South America: Known only from the type locality, a small stream tributary to upper PiraĆ­ river, Araras hill, upper ParaĆ­ba do Sul river basin, Brazil.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal soft rays (total): 11-11; Anal soft rays: 9-9; Vertebrae: 35-36. Distinguished from all congeners from southeastern Brazil by having nine pleural ribs (vs. 10- 17). This is similar to Trichomycterus travassosi and distinguished from all other species of southeastern Brazil by having shorter nasal barbel, its tip reaching eye (vs. between middle of the distance eyeopercular patch of odontodes and pectoral-fin base). Can be separated from T. travassosi by having larger eye (13.2 - 14.6% of head length, vs. 8.5- 10.7 %) and dorsal and lateral midline spots coalesced to form transverse bars (vs. lateral midline spots not confluent to dorsal spots) (Ref. 89884).
Biology:  Found actively swimming during day time in shallow places (20-40 cm deep) with fast flowing water, usually on gravel substratum, sometimes partially burrowed in the sand (Ref. 89884). Sympatric with Trichomycterus claudiae (Ref. 89884).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 07 November 2018 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless
Country info:   
 


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