AquaticRepublic.com - Rhyacoglanis variolosus (Pseudopimelodidae) All Fishes

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All Fishes Data Sheet
Scientific Name	**Rhyacoglanis variolosus** (Miranda Ribeiro, 1914)
Common Name
Type Locality	Coxim, Rio Taquary, Mato Grosso State, Brazil.
Type Locality Notes	Inferred from city location along the Taquary.
Synonym(s)	Pseudopimelodus variolosus
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. The specific epithet variolosus refers to the body covered by spots, resembling smallpox pustules.
Species Information
Size	55mm or 2.2" 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. Rhyacoglanis variolosus is similar in appearance to R. pulcher, in that the dark subdorsal- and subadipose- bands are sometimes confluent. R. variolosus is distinguished from R. pulcher by the presence of dark spots covering the body: Larger spots are circular on the head and elongated on the body; interspersed among the larger spots are small punctate spots. The original description characterizes these spots as resembling smallpox pustules. The pectoral spines of R. variolosus are strongly serrated, the serrations widely spaced on both edges; the tip of each pectoral spine is followed by a filament that almost reaches the base of the ventra.
Habitat Information
Distribution	South America: Rio Taquary drainage, Mato Grosso, Brazil. La Plata, Paraná, Paraguay, Upper Paraguay, Taquari (Paraguay) (click on these areas to find other species found there) Login to view the map.
IUCN Red List Category	Not Evaluated
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	Pimelodidae, Trachycorystidae, Cetopsidae, Bunocephalidae, Auchenipteridae, e Hypophthalmidae. Annexo no. 5, pp 4, Pls. 1 (fig. 2), 2 (figs. 1-2).
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 no record of this fish being seen.
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	Look up R. variolosus on PlanetCatfish.com
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	Look up R. variolosus on Encyclopedia of Life
	Look up R. variolosus on Global Biodiversity Information Facility
	LFS label creator ARN ref:1.31.1297.7253
Last Update	2025 Jan 01 12:23 (species record created: 2018 Sep 11 15:46)