All FishesPseudopimelodidaeRhyacoglanis  |  | 

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Scientific Name Rhyacoglanis variolosus  (Miranda Ribeiro, 1914)
Common Name
Type Locality Coxim, Rio Taquary, Mato Grosso State, Brazil.
Type Locality Notes Inferred from city location along the Taquary.
Synonym(s) Pseudopimelodus variolosus
Etymology Rhyacoglanis, from the Greek rhyax = torrent + glanis = catfish; indicating a catfish inhabiting running waters in reference to the habitat of the genus. Gender masculine. The specific epithet variolosus refers to the body covered by spots, resembling smallpox pustules.
Hop to next section Species Information
Size 55mm or 2.2" SL. Find near, nearer or same sized spp.
Identification Rhyacoglanis is distinguished from other Pseudopimelodidae by three synapomorphies: presence of a light blotch on the cheek; a connection between the middle of the dark caudal-fin stripe and the dark caudal-peduncle pigmentation; and 30-35 total vertebrae. A key to the species is located HERE.

Rhyacoglanis variolosus is similar in appearance to R. pulcher, in that the dark subdorsal- and subadipose- bands are sometimes confluent. R. variolosus is distinguished from R. pulcher by the presence of dark spots covering the body: Larger spots are circular on the head and elongated on the body; interspersed among the larger spots are small punctate spots. The original description characterizes these spots as resembling smallpox pustules. The pectoral spines of R. variolosus are strongly serrated, the serrations widely spaced on both edges; the tip of each pectoral spine is followed by a filament that almost reaches the base of the ventra.
Hop to next section Habitat Information
Distribution South America: Rio Taquary drainage, Mato Grosso, Brazil.
La Plata, ParanĂ¡, Paraguay, Upper Paraguay, Taquari (Paraguay) (click on these areas to find other species found there)

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IUCN Red List Category Not Evaluated
Other Parameters Little is known of these fish in the aquarium. Provide good aeration; modest current may be beneficial.
Hop to next section Husbandry Information
Furniture See general remarks. Rhyacoglanis likely prefer well-aerated water with significant current over a substrate of rocks, pebbles and sand.
Breeding Unreported.
Breeding Reports There is no breeding report.
Hop to next section Further Information
Reference Pimelodidae, Trachycorystidae, Cetopsidae, Bunocephalidae, Auchenipteridae, e Hypophthalmidae. Annexo no. 5, pp 4, Pls. 1 (fig. 2), 2 (figs. 1-2).
Registered Keepers There is no registered keeper.
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Last Update 2023 Jul 22 08:52 (species record created: 2018 Sep 11 15:46)