All FishesScoloplacidaeScoloplax  |  | 

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Scientific Name Scoloplax empousa  Schaefer, Weitzman & Britski, 1989
Common Name
Type Locality Rio Ivinheima 70 kilometers upstream from its confluence with Rio Paraná, Mato Grosso State, Brazil, 22°35'S, 53°30'W.
Pronunciation SKOW low plax - ehm pow sah
Etymology Scoloplax: From the Greek skolos, meaning thorn and plax, meaning plate; in reference to the moveable dermal bone on top of snout (rostral plate) that is studded with large integumentary teeth. From the Greek empousa for hobgoblin or specter having various forms, in reference to the especially bizarre appearance of the species.
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Size 20mm or 0.8" SL. Find near, nearer or same sized spp.
Identification Species of the neotropical family Scoloplacidae are distinguished from other Siluriformes by the presence of a conspicuous shield-shaped rostral plate bearing numerous large and recurved odontodes. Scoloplacidae is a monogeneric family endemic to South America and known from the Amazon, Paraguay, and Parana basins. The worlds smallest known catfish are from this genus, the smallest is most likely S. dolicholophia.

Scoloplax empousa is distinguished from all other Scoloplax by the combination: paired bilateral mental barbels, four dorsal-fin rays, five pectoral-fin rays, five pelvic fin rays, and six anal-fin rays.
Sexing Larger male specimens with large, fleshy tissue at ventral opening. Females without tissue sack.
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Distribution South America: Amazon and Paraguay/Paraná River basins.
Amazon (click on these areas to find other species found there)
La Plata, ParanĂ¡ (click on these areas to find other species found there)
La Plata, ParanĂ¡, Paraguay (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 2020.
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Breeding Unreported in the aquarium.
Breeding Reports There is no breeding report.
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Reference Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia v. 141, pp 194, Figs. 7, 8, 11.
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Last Update 2020 Sep 28 06:17 (species record created: 2006 Dec 24 11:47)