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Scientific Name Pterocryptis cochinchinensis  (Valenciennes, 1840)
Common Name
Type Locality Cochinchine [? southern Vietnam].
Synonym(s) Herklotsella anomala, Parasilurus anomalus, Parasilurus cochinchinensis, Pterocryptis anomalus, Silurus anomalus, Silurus cochinchinensis
Pronunciation Terr oh krip tiss - koh cheen chee nan siss
Etymology The generic name comes from the Greek pteron, meaning fin, and kryptos, meaning hidden; in reference to the small dorsal fin. The specific epithet comes from Cochinchina (the old name for southern Vietnam), where the fish was first discovered.
Hop to next section Species Information
Size 235mm or 9.3" SL. Find near, nearer or same sized spp.
Identification Catfishes of the genus Pterocryptis Peters, 1861, are medium-sized members of the Siluridae usually found in fast-flowing mountain streams throughout India, southern China and Southeast Asia. Pterocryptis had been considered a junior synonym of Silurus Linnaeus, 1758, until its rediagnosis by Bornbusch (1991). There are 16 nominal species of Pterocryptis (Ng & Freyhof, 2001). They can be distinguished from other siluroids by having a small dorsal fin, upper jaw longer than the lower jaw and a confluent anal and caudal fin with a distinct notch between them.

Easily distinguished by its blunt head and truncate caudal fin.
There are actually several species of Pterocryptis currently identified as . The true P. cochinchinensis is restricted to central Vietnam.
Sexing Males have a small conical genital paiplla while females have a large, flattened, leaf-like papilla.
Males also have strong serrations on the posterior edge of the pectoral spine that females lack.
General Remarks Found in hillstreams with moderate to swift current and a predominantly rocky bottom.
Hop to next section Habitat Information
Distribution Asia: Nam Xam basin in Laos, Viet Nam, southeastern China and Thailand.
Vietnam waters, Central Vietnam Waters (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 2010.
pH 6.4 - 7.2
Temperature 16.0-23.0°C or 60.8-73.4°F (Show species within this range)
Other Parameters Current strongly preferred
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Feeding Readily feeds on live/frozen foods and other prepared foods such as pellets. May eat very small fishes. User data.
Furniture Provide plenty of rocks as hiding places.
Compatibility Peaceful fish that is compatible with most (except very small) fish. Best kept in a well-oxygenated tank with a vigorous current. Ideal tankmates include balitorine loaches such as Homaloptera, and fast-swimming cyprinids such as Danio or >Barilius.
Breeding Not reported.
Breeding Reports There is no breeding report.
Hop to next section Further Information
Reference Histoire naturelle des poissons v. 14, pp 352.
Registered Keepers There is no registered keeper.
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Last Update 2020 Sep 23 03:10 (species record created: 2006 Dec 25 21:31)