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  • Auchenipterus nuchalis
  • Auchenipterus nuchalisClose-up of head
  • Auchenipterus nuchalisSuriname
  • Auchenipterus nuchalisRio Araguaia
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Scientific Name Auchenipterus nuchalis    (Spix & Agassiz, 1829)
Common Name Moustache Cat
Type Locality Rio Capim, near São Domingos do Capim, at Igarapé Pirajauara, about 1°41'S, 47°47'W, Pará, Brazil [lower Amazon basin].
Synonym(s) Hypophthalmus nuchalis
Pronunciation awk en NIP terr uss - noo KAL iss
Etymology Auchenipterus: From the Greek, auchenos, meaning neck and pteron, meaning fin; in reference to the long cranial shield, which gives the appearance that the dorsal fin originates at the neck region. 
Hop to next section Species Information
Size 154mm or 6.1" SL. Find near, nearer or same sized spp.
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Distribution South America: Lower Amazon and Tocantins rivers northward to Marowijne River. Possibly also Rupununi and Negro rivers.
Amazon, Lower Amazon (click on these areas to find other species found there)
Amazon, Lower Amazon, Tocantins, Lower Tocantins (click on these areas to find other species found there)
Guyana Waters, Coastal Rivers of Guyanas, French Guyana Coastal Rivers (click on these areas to find other species found there)
Guyana Waters, Coastal Rivers of Guyanas, Suriname Coastal Rivers, Marowijne, Upper Marowijne, Grand Inini (click on these areas to find other species found there)
Amazon, Lower Amazon, Guamá, Capim (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.
Temperature 20.0-22.0°C or 68-71.6°F (Show species within this range)
Hop to next section Husbandry Information
Breeding Unreported.
Breeding Reports There is no breeding report.
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Reference Selecta genera et species piscium quos in itinere per Brasiliam, pp 17, Pl. 17.
Registered Keepers There is no registered keeper.
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There is but a single record of this fish being seen, view it.
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Last Update 2025 Jan 02 01:36 (species record created: 2005 Feb 10 00:00)