New 🐟 Mercury Safety Guide & Omega-3 Rankings Updated for 2026. View Omega-3 Rankings →

💧 Freshwater Critically Endangered 🌡️ Tropical

Gymnotus Capitimaculatus

Gymnotus capitimaculatus Pereira, 2014
Max Length
15.8 cm
Max Weight
-
Lifespan
-
Trophic Level
3.3
Depth
-
Climate
Tropical
Resilience
High
Vulnerability
15.00/100
Typical Length
-
Depth Zone
demersal

📖 Overview

Facultative air-breathing in the genus ; Occurs in clear water stream with topical width of about 1.5 m, depth range from 0.1 to 1 m and bottom consisting of sand and small gravel. Individuals were deeply hidden among marginal vegetation and roots, mostly where the water flow was faster. Inhabits sympatrically with another species of Gymnotus belonging to the G. carapo species group, but not syntopically .

Scientific Name
Gymnotus capitimaculatus
Authority
Pereira, 2014
Habitat
Freshwater
Climate
Tropical
Body Shape
Elongated
IUCN Status
CR
Max Length
15.8 cm
Trophic Level
3.3
Resilience
High
Vulnerability
15.00/100
Salinity
0–0.5 ppt

🐟 Physical Description

Gymnotus capitimaculatus belongs to the Gymnotus pantherinus species-group, characterized by having a slender body (body depth 7.2-8.9 % of TL), proximal portion of the fifth rib with broad triangular ridge, more than three times width of the sixth rib (vs. narrow ridge, less than three times width of the sixth rib) and one laterosensory pore in the dorso-posterior portion of the preopercle, in the preopercular-mandibular canal (vs. two pores). It differs from all congeners by having a pair of round blotches anteriorly positioned or under vertical passing through eye, on ventral portion of the head. It can be diagnosed from all members of the G. pantherinus species-group (sensu) by the following unique combination of characters: tail with a unique series of bands or round spots (vs. tail with randomly disposed spots, never forming a unique series); precaudal portion of the trunk lacks bands or with rounded and/or vermiculated spots scattered all over it (vs. with well defined bands); 45 precaudal vertebrae (vs. 31-43 or 46-51); 9 scales above lateral line at mid-body (vs. 6-8 or 10); anal fin base length 75.2-78.6 % of TL (vs. 62.9-74.7 or 79-83.8 %); anus-anal fin length 101.4-122.8 % of HL (vs. 50-96.3 %); and branchial opening 38.5-45.0 % of HL (vs. 24-35) .: elongated.

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for Gymnotus Capitimaculatus is currently being reviewed.

🦐 Diet

aquatic invertebrates
small fish
algae
detritus

🥚 Reproduction

🐣 Oviparous
Spawning Season
spring
Spawn Location
Substrate
Fertilization
External

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Freshwater; demersal. Tropical South America: Rio do Ouro, rio Jucuruçu basin in Brazil.

🌿 Ecology

Zone Preferences
💧 Freshwater ⬇️ Benthic
Trophic Level
3.3±0.4

📐 Morphometrics

Length–Weight Relationship: W = 0.00427 × L2.98 (TL)
Max TL
15.8cm

🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance

Salinity Range
0–0.5ppt

🛡️ Conservation Assessment

IUCN Category
Critically Endangered
Assessment Date
2020

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

Population Resilience
High
Minimum doubling time
Fishing Vulnerability
15.00/100
Low vulnerability
Trophic Level
3.3
Predator
Body Shape
Elongated
Climate Zone
Tropical
Described By
Pereira, 2014

👥 Community & Contribute

Aquareap Community Observations
0 Observations logged on Aquareap

No observations yet - be the first to log one!

View all observations for Gymnotus Capitimaculatus ↗
Suggest an Edit

Spotted incorrect or outdated data? Submit a correction and our editorial team will review it. Approved edits go live within 48 hours.

Link to a scientific paper, FishBase, or other authoritative source
Report an Issue

Found a factual error, broken data, or inappropriate content? Let us know and we will investigate promptly.