AquaticRepublic.com - Microglanis poecilus (Pseudopimelodidae) All Fishes

Tapanahony river, Suriname
Original figure in Eigenmann (1912). Dorsal view
Pectoral fin spine, dorsal view
Rio Coppename, Suriname
Pectoral fin spine, dorsal view

All Fishes Data Sheet
Scientific Name	**Microglanis poecilus** Eigenmann, 1912
Common Names	Dwarf Marbled Catfish Pacamú (International), Poisson-chat Bourdon (International), Suedamerikanischer Hummelwels (Germany)
Type Locality	Below Packeoo Falls, Guyana.
Etymology	Micro - small, glanis - catfish - in reference to the rather small forms of catfish that this genus contains.
Species Information
Size	69mm or 2.7" SL. Find near, nearer or same sized spp.
Identification	The genus Microglanis was described by Eigenmann (1912) to include small pimelodids with the head as wide as long, the skull covered by skin only; the occipital crest small; frontal fontanel not extending much if any behind the eye, and a minute occipital fontanel sometimes present; eye without a free orbital margin; dorsal and pectoral spines well developed; and premaxillary patches of teeth without backward projecting angles.
Sexing	Well-conditioned females are conspicuously wider in the abdomen than similarly sized males.
General Remarks	There is much confusion in both scientific papers and in popular publications between M. poecilus and M. aff. iheringi types from Colombia. This confusion may have resulted in an erroneous report of the maximum SL of M. poecilus as being 69mm. The original description of M. poecilus was based on eight specimens between 22-37mm SL. This size range is more typical of properly identified specimens of M. poecilus and 37mm may be a more accurate maximum SL for the species.
Habitat Information
Distribution	South America: Essequibo River basin in Guyana and French Guiana; and Suriname. Guyana Waters, Coastal Rivers of Guyanas, Essequibo (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, Coppename (click on these areas to find other species found there) Guyana Waters, Coastal Rivers of Guyanas, Suriname Coastal Rivers, Marowijne, Tapanahony (click on these areas to find other species found there) Login to view the map.
IUCN Red List Category	Least Concern , range map and more is available on the IUCN species page. Last assessed 2020.
Husbandry Information
Compatibility	Non aggressive and sociable with its own and other species.
Suggested Tankmates	Virtually all good community fish, although any young fry present in the aquarium will be in extreme jeopardy - especially after dark.
Breeding Reports	There is no breeding report.
Further Information
Reference	Memoirs of the Carnegie Museum v. 5 (no. 1), pp 155, Pl. 12 (fig. 2).
Registered Keepers	There is no registered keeper.
Wishlists	Love this species? Click the heart to add it to your wish list. There is no wish to keep this species.
Spotters	Spotted this species somewhere? Click the binoculars! There is but a single record of this fish being seen, view it.
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	Look up M. poecilus on PlanetCatfish.com
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	Look up M. poecilus on Encyclopedia of Life
	Look up M. poecilus on Global Biodiversity Information Facility
	LFS label creator ARN ref:1.31.106.3772
Last Update	2025 Jun 22 06:19 (species record created: 2011 Jul 17 14:28)