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Scientific NameTetranematichthys wallacei    Vari & Ferraris, 2006
Common NamesWallace's Shoe Head Catfish
Driftwood Catfish
Type LocalityUpper Rio Negro, São Pedro, mouth of Igarapé do Ibará, about 0°15'S, 66°46'W, Amazonas, Brazil.
Synonym(s)
EtymologyTetranematichthys: From the Greek tetra, meaning four, nema, meaning filament, and ichthys, meaning fish; in reference to the number of barbels. 
Hop to next section Species Information
Size206mm or 8.1" SL. Find near, nearer or same sized spp.
Identification1. Lateral margin of head at anterior portion of orbit, parallel to the posterior limit of operculum, in ventral view (Fig. 5a); ventral region light or dark colored; presence or absence of digit-like projections on distal portion of mandibular barbel; length of mandibular barbel 5.2- 2.6% HL; length of main ray of upper caudal-fin lobe 14.5- 20.5% SL; body width at pectoral-fin insertion 82.1- 110.0% HO; head length 24.4- 31.0% SL ..................................................2 1a. Lateral margin of head at anterior portion of orbit, diverging laterally to posterior limit of operculum, in ventral view (Fig. 5b); uniform colour pattern with dark patches along the body; presence of digit-like projections on distal portion of mandibular barbel; length of mandibular barbel 6.3-23.5% HL; length of main ray of upper caudal-fin lobe 18.1-19.9% SL; body width at pectoral-fin insertion 117.0125.0% HO; head length 28.5-32.3% SL ............................................. .............................................................. T. quadrifilis (rio Guaporé Basin) 2. Dorsal region without blurred light area; dark patches of pigmentation present along the body; ventral region dark-coloured; one light coloured stripe present on the caudal-fin; pelvic-fin without distinct light coloured stripe; anterior margin of mandibular barbel with digit-like projections; length of mandibular barbel 7.4-24.6% HL; snout length 41.2-49.3% HL; body width at pectoral-fin insertion 69.279.3% HL ................................................... T. wallacei (rio Tocantins, rio Orinoco and several stretches of the rio Amazon, except rio Guaporé) 2a. Dorsal region with blurred light area; dark patches of pigmentation absent along the body; ventral region light-coloured; two light-coloured stripes present on the caudal fin; pelvic-fin with distinct light coloured stripe; anterior margin of mandibular barbel serrated on distal portion; length of mandibular barbel 4.5-6.0% HL; snout length 28.834.5% HL; body width at pectoral-fin insertion 82.1-88.7% HL..................T. barthemi (rio Saracá, rio Araticum and rio Urubu).

1. Lateral margin of head at anterior portion of orbit, parallel to the posterior limit of operculum, in ventral view (Fig. 5a); ventral region light or dark colored; presence or absence of digit-like projections on distal portion of mandibular barbel; length of mandibular barbel 5.2- 2.6% HL; length of main ray of upper caudal-fin lobe 14.5- 20.5% SL; body width at pectoral-fin insertion 82.1- 110.0% HO; head length 24.4- 31.0% SL ..................................................2 1a. Lateral margin of head at anterior portion of orbit, diverging laterally to posterior limit of operculum, in ventral view (Fig. 5b); uniform colour pattern with dark patches along the body; presence of digit-like projections on distal portion of mandibular barbel; length of mandibular barbel 6.3-23.5% HL; length of main ray of upper caudal-fin lobe 18.1-19.9% SL; body width at pectoral-fin insertion 117.0125.0% HO; head length 28.5-32.3% SL ............................................. .............................................................. T. quadrifilis (rio Guaporé Basin) 2. Dorsal region without blurred light area; dark patches of pigmentation present along the body; ventral region dark-coloured; one light coloured stripe present on the caudal-fin; pelvic-fin without distinct light coloured stripe; anterior margin of mandibular barbel with digit-like projections; length of mandibular barbel 7.4-24.6% HL; snout length 41.2-49.3% HL; body width at pectoral-fin insertion 69.279.3% HL ................................................... T. wallacei (rio Tocantins, rio Orinoco and several stretches of the rio Amazon, except rio Guaporé) 2a. Dorsal region with blurred light area; dark patches of pigmentation absent along the body; ventral region light-coloured; two light-coloured stripes present on the caudal fin; pelvic-fin with distinct light coloured stripe; anterior margin of mandibular barbel serrated on distal portion; length of mandibular barbel 4.5-6.0% HL; snout length 28.834.5% HL; body width at pectoral-fin insertion 82.1-88.7% HL..................T. barthemi (rio Saracá, rio Araticum and rio Urubu).
Hop to next section Habitat Information
DistributionSouth America
Amazon, Lower Amazon, Tocantins (click on these areas to find other species found there)
Amazon, Middle Amazon (Solimoes), Negro, Upper Negro (click on these areas to find other species found there)
Amazon (click on these areas to find other species found there)
Orinoco (click on these areas to find other species found there)
Amazon, Lower Amazon, Tapajós (click on these areas to find other species found there)

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IUCN Red List Category
Least Concern
, a distribution map is available on the IUCN species page. Last assessed 2020.
Hop to next section Husbandry Information
Breeding ReportsThere is no breeding report.
Hop to next section Further Information
ReferenceCopeia 2006 (no. 2), pp 169, Figs. 1A, 2, 4.
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Tetranematichthys wallacei QR codeLFS label creator
ARN ref:1.22.249.8
Last UpdateThu Jan 01, 1970 1:00 am (Species record created: Thu Jan 01, 1970 1:00 am)