Hypostomus Melanephelis
📖 Overview
Facultative air-breathing in the genus ; Collection area included different sections of running waters on large extensions of rocky substrate .
🔬 Taxonomy
🐟 Physical Description
Dorsal spines (total): 2; Dorsal soft rays (total): 7; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 5; Vertebrae: 29. Diagnosis: Hypostomus melanephelis is distinguished from the congeners, except H. interruptus, H. paucimaculatus, H. micropunctatus, H. nigropunctatus, and H. rhantos, by having conspicuous dark, roundish and tiny (smaller than eye pupil) set of dark spots on trunk (vs. medium to large pale or dark spots [larger than eye pupil], or transversally elongated dark spots); Hypostomus melanephelis is distinguished from H. interruptus, H. paucimaculatus, H. micropunctatus, H. nigropunctatus, and H. rhantos by the naked to partially plated abdomen (vs. abdomen completely covered by platelets); it is further diagnosed from H. interruptus by a larger mandibular ramus, 18-22 % HL (vs. 11.6-17.5 % HL; from H. paucimaculatus by having villiform bicuspid non spoon-shaped teeth with the lateral cusps not fused to the mesial tooth (vs. massive spoon-shaped teeth with lateral cusps usually fused to the mesial tooth); from H. micromaculatus by having usually 1 row of spots on each interradial membrane of dorsal fin (vs. 4-5) moderately distant from each other on flanks (vs. densely settled spots); from H. nigropunctatus by having just 1 plate posteriorly bordering supraoccipital (vs. 3); and from H. rhantos by having a more depressed head 49-56 % SL (vs. a more deeper head 64.3-83.2 % HL . : elongated.
🌀 Behaviour
Behavioural data for Hypostomus Melanephelis is currently being reviewed.
🦐 Diet
🥚 Reproduction
🌍 Habitat & Distribution
Freshwater; demersal. Tropical South America: currently known only from the rio Tapajós basin, near Itaituba city, Pará State, Brazil (Ref.
🌿 Ecology
📐 Morphometrics
🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance
📊 Population Risk & Fisheries
🔍 Similar Species
👥 Community & Contribute
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