Tiny New Armored Catfish Species Found in Brazil

Posted on July 19, 2013

A tiny new species of catfish has been discovered in the waters of Rio Rio Paraiba do Sul basin, Brazil. The new species, Pareiorhina hyptiorhachis, belongs to a genus of armored catfishes which are found only in Brazil. The new species is distinguished from others species of the genus by the presence of a conspicuous ridge on the trunk posterior to the dorsal fin.

The fish only reach about 3 to 3.5 centimeters (1.2 to 1.4 inches) in length. It inhabits moderate to fast-flowing streams. The researchers say its body is entirely covered by bony plates, "except for ventral surface of head, abdomen and region overlaying swimbladder capsule."

The research was published here in ZooKeys.