Sturisoma facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Sturisoma |
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| Sturisoma guentheri | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Siluriformes |
| Family: | Loricariidae |
| Tribe: | Harttiini |
| Genus: | Sturisoma Swainson, 1838 |
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Sturisoma is a group of interesting fish known as armored catfishes. They are found naturally in rivers and streams across Central and South America. These fish are often called "twig catfishes" because of their long, slender bodies that help them blend in with branches and plants in the water.
Contents
About Sturisoma Fish Families
Scientists study how different fish are related. They have found that Sturisoma fish are very closely related to another group of fish called Farlowella. Think of them like cousins in the fish world!
Types of Sturisoma Species
There are currently 12 different kinds, or species, of Sturisoma fish that scientists have officially named:
- Sturisoma barbatum (Kner, 1853)
- Sturisoma brevirostre (C. H. Eigenmann & R. S. Eigenmann, 1889)
- Sturisoma caquetae (Henry Weed Fowler, 1945)
- Sturisoma graffini Alejandro Londoño-Burbano, 2018
- Sturisoma guentheri (Regan, 1904)
- Sturisoma lyra (Regan, 1904)
- Sturisoma monopelte Fowler, 1914
- Sturisoma nigrirostrum Fowler, 1940
- Sturisoma reisi Londoño-Burbano & Britto, 2022
- Sturisoma robustum (Regan, 1904)
- Sturisoma rostratum (Spix & Agassiz, 1829)
- Sturisoma tenuirostre (Steindachner, 1910)
Where Sturisoma Fish Live
Sturisoma fish are found in many places. They live on both sides of the Andes mountains. You can also find them in Panama and Colombia. They are common in the large river systems of South America, like the Amazon, Orinoco, and Paraná River basins.
How Sturisoma Fish Look
Male Sturisoma fish look a bit different from females. This difference is called sexual dimorphism. Males have special, rough bristles or bumps on the sides of their heads. These are called odontodes, and they become much bigger in males, especially during breeding season.
Sturisoma Habitat and Reproduction
Sturisoma fish like to live in rivers where the water flows gently or even quite fast. They prefer "white waters," which means the water is cloudy with sediment. In these rivers, there's usually a lot of submerged wood, like fallen branches and logs. They use this wood to hide and find food.
When it's time to have babies, Sturisoma fish are "open brooders." This means they lay their eggs out in the open, often on surfaces like rocks or wood, instead of hiding them in nests or caves. The parents, usually the male, will then guard the eggs until they hatch.
See also
In Spanish: Sturisoma para niños
