Asterophysus batrachus

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Asterophysus batrachus
Systematics
Cohort : Otomorpha
Sub-cohort : Ostariophysi
Order : Catfish (Siluriformes)
Family : False thorn catfish (Auchenipteridae)
Genre : Asterophysus
Type : Asterophysus batrachus
Scientific name of the  genus
Asterophysus
Kner , 1858
Scientific name of the  species
Asterophysus batrachus
Kner, 1858

Asterophysus batrachus , in Portuguese bagre glutão or bagre torpedo, in English gulper / Ogre catfish, is a South American species of catfish from the family of the false thorn catfish .

features

The catfish can reach a standard length of 25 centimeters with a total length of 30 centimeters. He has a short and stocky body shape and a large head with a noticeably large mouth. The back is usually dark in color and the belly whitish. In the milkner , the first ray of the anal fin is thickened.

distribution

Asterophysus batrachus occurs in the black water river system of the Rio Negro and Orinoco basins off the countries of Brazil , Colombia and Venezuela . In its habitat, water temperatures of 26 ° C to 30 ° C prevail. The species prefers slowly flowing river sections with diverse underwater structures. Asterophysus batrachus is the only species of the genus Asterophysus so far . In Marajó , in the mouth of the Amazon , about 1,200 kilometers from the main distribution area of A. batrachus , a new species has been discovered that may belong to the same genus.

Way of life

Asterophysus batrachus is a pure predatory fish . The False Catfish is known in aquariums for its greedy eating behavior, which has earned it the name gulper or ogre catfish. He often devours prey fish that are much larger than himself. He pursues his prey by swimming slowly behind them until they come within reach of his mouth, which can snap shut with lightning speed. Forage fish are usually grabbed head first and backward-facing teeth prevent the wriggling prey from escaping. During the swallowing process, large amounts of water are swallowed, which makes it easier to suck in the food. The stomach bag can expand many times over during this process. Cichlids , which are often on the menu of the false catfish, usually recognize the predatory fish too late as a threat due to its small size and its slow and calm swimming movements. Even if many of these snapping attempts fail, the predatory fish always succeeds in stalking its prey inconspicuously. Some fish are also overwhelmed during sleep. False catfish are predominantly crepuscular and nocturnal in wild waters , while in aquariums they often learn to eat at any time of the day or night.

Use

Asterophysus batrachus is rarely used as a food fish, but more as an aquarium fish.

Notes and individual references

  1. ↑ Jansen Zuanon, Ivan Sazima: The ogre catfish: prey scooping by the auchenipterid Asterophysus batrachus . Research Gate. 2005
  2. ↑ Asterophysus batrachus
  3. ^ Carl J. Ferraris: Checklist of catfishes, recent and fossil (Osteichthyes: Siluriformes), and catalog of siluriform primary types. Zootaxa
  4. ↑ LF d. A. Monday, AA d. Albuquerque, TM d. S. Freitas, RB Barthem: Ictiofauna de campos alagados da Ilha do Marajó, Estado do Pará, Brasil . Biota Neotrope. 9 (3): 241-253. 2009
  5. ↑ "Schlinger" or "Schlucker"
  6. ^ Brian M. Scott: Aquarium Care of the Gulper Catfish Asterophysus batrachus. Top of the Food Chain: October 2007
  7. ↑ The ogre catfish: prey scooping by the auchenipterid Asterophysus batrachus. Three phases of Asterophysus batrachus belly ballooning: beginning water intake (above); stomach full of water (middle); belly wrinkled after water expulsion (below). Note exaggeratedly distended belly and rotation of pelvic and pectoral fins in the full belly phase (actual size about 14 cm TL). Based on photographs by Leandro Souza.
  8. ↑ Amazon predators. Asterophysus batrachus
  9. ↑ Brief information on Asterophysus batrachus
  10. ↑ Gulper Catfish. Seriously Fish

literature

  • Jansen Zuanon and Ivan Sazima: The ogre catfish: prey scooping by the auchenipterid Asterophysus batrachus . aqua, Journal of Ichthyology and Aquatic Biology. 2005. (port./en.)

Web links