AquaticRepublic.com - Rhyacoglanis pulcher (Pseudopimelodidae) All Fishes

Rio Villano, Ecuador
Close-up of head
Rio Villano, Dorsal view
Canelos, Ecuador. Dorsal view
Rio Villano, Ecuador
Ventral view
Pectoral spine, dorsal view. Bar = 2mm
Pectoral-fin spine, dorsal view. Bar = 2.0 mm

All Fishes Data Sheet
Scientific Name	**Rhyacoglanis pulcher** (Boulenger, 1887)
Common Names	Båndet Strømmalle (Denmark) Torrent Bumblebee Catfish
Type Locality	Canelos, eastern Ecuador.
Synonym(s)	Pimelodus pulcher, Pseudopimelodus pulcher, Pseudopimelodus variolosus
Pronunciation	"POOL chair".
Etymology	Rhyacoglanis, from the Greek rhyax = torrent + glanis = catfish; indicating a catfish inhabiting running waters in reference to the habitat of the genus. Gender masculine. This specific epithet literally means beautiful (pulcher=beautiful).
Species Information
Size	83mm or 3.3" SL. Find near, nearer or same sized spp.
Identification	Rhyacoglanis is distinguished from other Pseudopimelodidae by three synapomorphies: presence of a light blotch on the cheek; a connection between the middle of the dark caudal-fin stripe and the dark caudal-peduncle pigmentation; and 30-35 total vertebrae. A key to the species is located HERE.
General Remarks	Many Rhyacoglanis specimens with an appearance very similar to R. pulcher have been collected in Peru, Brazil, Bolivia and elsewhere, but R. pulcher sensu stricto is considered limited to Ecuador. Rhyacoglanis specimens from outside Ecuador that look similar are currently considered to be other (likely undescribed) species and are treated here as Rhyacoglanis aff. pulcher.
Habitat Information
Distribution	South America: upper Amazon River basin, Ecuador. Amazon, Middle Amazon (Solimoes), Madeira, Madre de Dios (click on these areas to find other species found there) Amazon, Upper Amazon, Marañón, Pastaza, Bobonaza (click on these areas to find other species found there) Amazon, Upper Amazon, Napo, Curaray, Villano (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.
Other Parameters	Little is known of these fish in the aquarium. Provide good aeration; modest current may be beneficial.
Husbandry Information
Furniture	See general remarks. Rhyacoglanis likely prefer well-aerated water with significant current over a substrate of rocks, pebbles and sand.
Breeding	Unreported.
Breeding Reports	There is no breeding report.
Further Information
Reference	Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London 1887 (pt 2) (art. 2) (for 1 Mar. 1887), pp 276, Pl. 21 (fig. 1).
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 are 3 records of this fish being seen, view them all.
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	Look up R. pulcher on PlanetCatfish.com
	Look up R. pulcher on Fishbase
	Look up R. pulcher on Encyclopedia of Life
	Look up R. pulcher on Global Biodiversity Information Facility
	LFS label creator ARN ref:1.31.1297.1524
Last Update	2025 Jan 02 01:40 (species record created: 2005 Apr 17 00:00)