All FishesScoloplacidaeScoloplax  |  | 

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Scientific Name Scoloplax dolicholophia  Schaefer, Weitzman & Britski, 1989
Common Name
Type Locality Tributary of Rio Tarumãzinho approximately 45 kilometers north of Manaus, Brazil, 2°42'S, 60°03'W.
Pronunciation SKOW low plax
Etymology Scoloplax: From the Greek skolos, meaning thorn and plax, meaning plate; in reference to the moveable dermal bone on top of snout (rostral plate) that is studded with large integumentary teeth. From the Greek dolicho for long, and lophia for crest or ridge, here used in reference to the long pterotic-supracleithral crest or ridge in this species. (gender feminine).
Hop to next section Species Information
Size 12mm or 0.5" SL. Find near, nearer or same sized spp.
Identification Species of the neotropical family Scoloplacidae are distinguished from other Siluriformes by the presence of a conspicuous shield-shaped rostral plate bearing numerous large and recurved odontodes. Scoloplacidae is a monogeneric family endemic to South America and known from the Amazon, Paraguay, and Parana basins. The worlds smallest known catfish are from this genus, the smallest is most likely S. dolicholophia.

Body color dark brown. Head and cheek region uniformly dark brown. Minute to moderately sized dark brown chromatophores diffusely scattered over dorsal surfaces of trunk.Trunk with four dark brown pigment saddles. Sides of trunk with red midlateral pigments from middle of pectoral fin in specimens from Rio Unini.
Sexing The males only grow up to 15 mm TL, the females can grow a little bit bigger and become clearly thicker.
General Remarks Within the aquarium trade, this group of fishes has been almost totally unknown. Perhaps single specimens are sometimes imported together with other fishes (for example cardinal tetras). The tiny adult size and secretive nature of these fishes are to blame for their relative obscurity.
Hop to next section Habitat Information
Distribution South America: Negro River basin.
Amazon, Middle Amazon (Solimoes), Negro (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.
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Feeding The best way to feed these fish is with small live food such as Cyclops or Artemia. User data.
Furniture In their wild habitat you can most often find these dwarfs between fallen leaves that accumulate on along the river banks. Sometimes, for example after rainfall, you can find these fishes in free water.
Compatibility Their way of life is similar to that of the banjo catfishes, must be kept with timid small fishes. The smaller, blackwater pencilfishes and hatchetfishes would be ideal tankmates.
Breeding Unreported.
Breeding Reports There is no breeding report.
Hop to next section Further Information
Reference Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia v. 141, pp 196, Figs. 9-11.
Registered Keepers There is no registered keeper.
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Last Update 2020 Nov 08 05:11 (species record created: 2005 Jul 10 00:00)