Acanthobunocephalus nicoi facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Acanthobunocephalus nicoi |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | |
| Phylum: | |
| Class: | |
| Order: | |
| Family: |
Aspredinidae
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| Subfamily: |
Bunocephalinae
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| Genus: |
Acanthobunocephalus
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| Species: |
A. nicoi
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| Binomial name | |
| Acanthobunocephalus nicoi Friel, 1995
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Acanthobunocephalus nicoi is a unique type of catfish. It's one of only two known species in its group, called Acanthobunocephalus. This small fish belongs to the Aspredinidae family. It has only been found in a few places. These include the upper Orinoco River in Venezuela and possibly the upper Rio Negro in Brazil.
Contents
Discovering the Acanthobunocephalus nicoi Catfish
This special catfish was first described in 1995 by a scientist named John Patrick Friel. It is quite rare. Scientists have only found it in three specific locations so far. This suggests it lives in a very limited area.
What Makes This Catfish Special?
Acanthobunocephalus nicoi looks different from other fish in its family. It has a special way to lock its dorsal fin spine. This spine is also very stiff.
- Its lateral line (a sensory organ) stops around its dorsal fin.
- The fish has a flat head.
- Its caudal peduncle (the narrow part before the tail fin) is thin. It gets even thinner towards the caudal fin (tail fin).
- The mouth is at the very front of its head. Its jaws and lips are the same size.
- The membranes of its dorsal and anal fins are not attached to its body.
These fish are quite small. They become adults when they are just over 16 millimeters (about 0.63 inches) long. The largest ones ever seen were about 20 millimeters (about 0.79 inches) long.
Where Does It Live?
This catfish prefers to live among flooded plants. It especially likes grasses and sedges. These plants grow in "black water" rivers. Black water gets its dark color from natural chemicals called tannins. These tannins come from decaying plants.
See also
In Spanish: Acanthobunocephalus nicoi para niños
