Aspidoras Azaghal

📖 Overview

The streams where this species was found were narrow (less than 2.0 m width) to moderately large (up to 20 m width), with low riffles alternating with smoothly running stretches; where the substrate was composed by white silica sand stretches mixed with pebbles, rock slabs and ledges, as well as large rocks of up to 2.0 m diameter; some coarse litter patches and submerged macrophyte banks found close to the margins and in backwaters. The banks were covered by thick riparian vegetation composed by trees, palms (mostly the buriti Mauritia flexuosa, Arecaceae) and herbaceous plants dominated by Spatiphyllum sp. (Araceae) in some stretches; the water clear to yellowish and relatively cold (24-25°C). The species was found in abundance in the main streams of the upper area of Serra do Pardo ridge, occupying moderate- to fast-flowing and shallow (less than 1 m deep) stretches. Individuals in groups (up to a dozen) were observed actively foraging during the day by sifting food particles amidst the upper layer of the sand substrate in shallow areas close to the margins. Associated fishes found sharing the streams were Callichthys callichthys and one species each of Laimosemion, Synbranchus, Astyanax and Characidium, all still unidentified and possibly new to science. The presence of a large waterfall of nearly 30 m height in the type locality may possibly be a barrier to the fish fauna inhabiting the lower portions of the Igarapé do Pontal basin, to which the streams of the upper portions of the Serra do Pardo are connected, which may explain the apparently depauperate local fish fauna .

🔬 Taxonomy

🐟 Physical Description

This species is distinguished from its congeners by the following characters: absence of the median foramen at the dorsal-fin spine base; absence of the first dorsal-fin element, the spinelet; parieto-supraoccipital fontanel located medially on bone; lacks a longitudinal dark brown or black stripe along flank midline and ventral surface of trunk covered by relatively small irregular and/or roundish platelets; inner laminar expansion of infraorbital 1 well developed; with relatively wide frontal bone, its width equal to half of entire length; poorly developed serrations on posterior margin of the pectoral-fin spine .: elongated; Cross section: oval.

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for Aspidoras Azaghal is currently being reviewed.

🦐 Diet

🥚 Reproduction

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Freshwater; demersal. Tropical

🌿 Ecology

📐 Morphometrics

🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

🐠 Related Species

🔍 Similar Species

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