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  • Glyptothorax major
  • Glyptothorax major
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Scientific Name Glyptothorax major  (Boulenger, 1894)
Common Name
Type Locality Senah River, Tagora River and Baram River, Sarawak state, Borneo, East Malaysia.
Synonym(s) Akysis major, Glyptosternum tiong
Pronunciation Gleep toe thor axe - may jorr
Etymology The generic name comes from the Greek glyptos, meaning carved, and thorax, meaning breastplate (or the part of the body covered by it), in reference to the folds of skin comprising the thoracic adhesive apparatus. From the Latin major, meaning greater, in reference to the size of this species.
Hop to next section Species Information
Size 144mm or 5.7" SL. Find near, nearer or same sized spp.
Identification Sisorid catfishes of the genus Glyptothorax Blyth are benthic inhabitants of torrential waters of rivers and streams in montane and submontane parts of tropical Asia. The members of the genus are adapted to attach themselves to rocks and boulders against strong currents by means of a thoracic adhesive apparatus comprising grooves and folded pleats of skin parallel or oblique to the longitudinal axis of the body. The genus has a wide distribution, ranging from Turkey and Syria in the west, to India and China in the east, and extending further southeastward to Indonesia. With 84 nominal species, Glyptothorax are the most speciose genus of catfishes in Asia (Eschmeyer et al., 1998, Ng, 2005); 67 species were treated as valid by Thomson & Page (2006).

A robust, stout-bodied species with a relatively deep caudal peduncle and a fairly uniformly-colored body with little/no paler patches.
Sexing Males have a longer genital papilla.
Hop to next section Habitat Information
Distribution Asia: Mekong basin; also from Malaysia and Borneo.
Pacific, Greater Sunda Island Rivers, Borneo Waters, East Borneo Waters, North Eastern Borneo Waters (click on these areas to find other species found there)
Pacific, Greater Sunda Island Rivers, Borneo Waters, Western Borneo Waters, North Western Borneo Waters (click on these areas to find other species found there)

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IUCN Red List Category Least Concern, range map and more is available on the IUCN species page. Last assessed 2019.
pH 6.6 - 7.8
Temperature 20.0-25.0°C or 68-77°F (Show species within this range)
Other Parameters Strong current preferred. Good oxygenation necessary.
Hop to next section Husbandry Information
Feeding Will feed on live/frozen food, but does not appear to take prepared foods. User data.
Furniture A bottom of coarse sand/fine gravel and enough rocks to partially deflect the current and for the fish to hide in.
Compatibility A peaceful species suitable for the hillstream biotope tank. Best kept in a well-oxygenated tank with strong current.
Breeding Unreported in the aquarium.
Breeding Reports There is no breeding report.
Hop to next section Further Information
Reference Annals and Magazine of Natural History (Series 6) v. 13 (no. 75) (art. 26), pp 246.
Registered Keepers There is no registered keeper.
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Last Update 2020 Sep 28 07:33 (species record created: 2006 Dec 28 00:18)