Eremophilus facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Eremophilus |
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| Eremophilus mutisii, original illustration by Humboldt | |
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Eremophilus
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| Species: |
mutisii
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Of Eremophilus |
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The Eremophilus mutisii is a unique type of catfish that lives in Colombia. It's the only fish in its entire group, making it very special! This fish can grow to be about 30 centimeters (12 inches) long. It originally comes from the Bogotá River basin, which is a river system that flows into the Magdalena River. This fish has also likely been moved to other areas like the Ubaté, Chiquinquirá, and Tundama valleys in Colombia.
About the Capitán de la Sabana
The Eremophilus mutisii is sometimes called the "Capitán de la Sabana." This name means "Captain of the Savannah," which sounds pretty cool! It's a type of catfish, which are known for their whiskers, called barbels, around their mouths. These barbels help them find food in the water.
How it Breathes
This amazing fish has a special way of breathing air, even though it lives in water! It uses a part of its stomach that has lots of tiny blood vessels. This part works a bit like a lung.
When the fish needs air, it quickly swims to the surface. It breathes out old air first, then takes in fresh air. It can breathe air even when there's plenty of oxygen in the water. But it's especially helpful when the water has very little oxygen, a condition called hypoxia.
The E. mutisii also has a very small swimbladder. A swimbladder usually helps fish float. But because this fish often lives on the bottom of rivers (which is called a benthic lifestyle), it doesn't need a big swimbladder.
Why it's Special
The Eremophilus mutisii is an important fish for food in Colombia. It's known for being very tasty! What makes it even more special is its ability to survive.
Many other native fish species have struggled when new fish, like trout and carp, were brought into the rivers. These new fish often compete for food and space. However, the E. mutisii has been able to survive and thrive, even with these new competitors. This shows how tough and adaptable this unique catfish is!
See also
In Spanish: Capitán de la Sabana para niños
