Sorubim cuspicaudus Littmann, Burr & Nass, 2000
Trans-Andean shovelnose catfish
Sorubim cuspicaudus
photo by Olaya-Nieto, C.W.

Family:  Pimelodidae (Long-whiskered catfishes)
Max. size:  80 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  demersal; freshwater
Distribution:  South America: Lake Maracaib, Magdalena and Sinu River basins.
Diagnosis:  Anal soft rays: 18-22; Vertebrae: 50-54. Distinguished from its congeners by the following characters: caudal fin deeply forked; outer, unbranched principal rays of upper and lower lobes longest in each lobe and about equal in length; posterior fontanelle elongate, forming conspicuous groove on supraoccipital bone, skin pigmented black in groove (vs. congeners which are without elongate posterior fontanelle, supraoccipital groove, or black pigment); unique in having combination of elongate body and broad-shaped head (vs. congeners with either elongate body and head, or stout body with broad head) (Ref, 57983).
Biology: 
IUCN Red List Status: Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless
Country info:   
 


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