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Scientific Name Spatuloricaria tuira  Fichberg, Oyakaw & de Pinna, 2014
Common Names Tuira's Whiptail
Marbled Xingu Whiptail, Xingu-grenmalle (Denmark)
Type Locality Tapajós drainage, Pará State, Rio Jamanxim near Vila Mil, Novo Progresso, 7°43'51"S, 55°16'36"W, Brazil.
Pronunciation spat you lorry CAR ee ah.
Etymology Latin, spatula, spathe = spatula, spatule + Latin, lorica, loricare = cuirass of corslet of leather; in reference to the flat bodyshape. The specific name tuira honors a Brazilian Indian woman from Mebeˆngoˆkre/Kaiapo´ ethnicity who became a symbol of the resistance against construction of hydroelectric dams on the Rio Xingu.
Hop to next section Species Information
Size 166mm or 6.5" SL. Find near, nearer or same sized spp.
Identification Distinguished from all its congeners except Spatuloricaria nudiventris by having the abdominal surface completely naked or rarely with few, very small plates (vs. abdominal region covered with plates); and by the absence of preanal plates (vs. presence of one to four preanal plates).
Sexing Adult males are more heavily built with odontodal growth from the cheeks and on the pectoral fin spines which are typically thicker and a little shorter than those found on females. When viewed from above, the male has an isosceles triangle-shaped head, which contrasts with the more equilateral triangle shape seen in females.
Hop to next section Habitat Information
Distribution Rio Xingu, Brazil Rio Tapajos, Brazil.
Amazon, Lower Amazon, Xingu (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 2018.
pH 6.0 - 7.4
Temperature 26.0-29.0°C or 78.8-84.2°F (Show species within this range)
Other Parameters Water current should be brisk if not strong.
Hop to next section Husbandry Information
Feeding An enthusiastic feeder that will accept most food that makes its way to the bottom. Not an algae eater of any note. User data.
Furniture Requirements are different from many catfish in that this fish likes sandy open spaces littered with flat rounded peebles and small stones, little cover is required.
Compatibility Keep in pairs or small groups of its own species ''under'' midwater dither fish such as Hyphessobrycon sized tetras.
Breeding Unreported.
Breeding Reports There is no breeding report.
Hop to next section Further Information
Reference Copeia 2014 (no. 2), pp 317, Figs. 2-4.
Registered Keepers There is no registered keeper.
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There are 2 records of this fish being seen, view them all.
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Last Update 2023 Aug 12 05:35 (species record created: 2001 Apr 29 00:00)