Pseudohemiodon apithanos • Loricariidae • Cat-eLog • PlanetCatfish

Male guarding eggs
Dorsal view
Note variance in colouration
Close-up of head
Close-up of head
Eggs
Close-up of head
Juveniles
Egg clutch
Ventral view

Cat-eLog Data Sheet
Scientific Name	**Pseudohemiodon apithanos** Isbrücker & Nijssen, 1978
Common Name(s)	Chameleon Whiptail
Type Locality	Río Conejo, trib. of Río San Miguel, vicinity of Santa Cecilia, 0°06'N, 76°51'W, Napo Prov., Ecuador.
Pronunciation	seu doh hem ee oh don - ah pith ah noss
Etymology	Greek, pseudes = false + Greek, hemi = half + Greek, odous = teeth The specific name apithanos (Greek) means incredible, an allusion to the variability in colour pattern, which is unique among its numerous sub-familial relatives.
Species Information
Size	180mm (7.1") SL. Find near, nearer or same sized spp.
Identification	A striking and unmistakable fish. I will change colour to virtually all black when disturbed. Normal colouration is a light grey background with a black line that runs from snout, between the eyes and broadens into a band around the dorsal area. Another band appears along the back and the tail fin is black.
Sexing	Mature males will develop their lower lips to allow them to carry egg clutches. Other signs of sexual dimorphism are probably present in mature males but remain, as yet, unreported.
General Remarks	Collected in typical whitewater (pH of 7.2, 27°C) of the Rio Itaya south of Iquitos, Peru - this species is typically exported from Iquitos.
Habitat Information
Distribution	Ecuador / Peru South America: San Miquel River basin, western Amazon River drainage. Amazon, Putumayo, San Miguel (Ecuador) (hover or click on these areas to show maps or find other species found there)
pH	6.4 - 7.6
Temperature	26.0-28.0°C or 78.8-82.4°F (Show others within this range)
Other Parameters	Water should be fairly soft.
Husbandry Information
Feeding	Algae wafers, sinking tablets, frozen bloodworm and frozen brineshrimp are all sought out.
Furniture	Large open expanses of sand are required, at least the length of the fish squared. Floating plants will help the fish settle but are not mandatory. Rooted plants will not stay that way for long however. This species is also found in light leaf litter over sand, this may provide a clue as to the 'chameleon' attributes of the fish.
Compatibility	Peaceful and not territorial even among it's own kind.
Breeding	At least one account is documented, as with all members of this genus, it is a lip-brooder.
Further Information
References	Beaufortia v. 27 (no. 339) - pp195 - Figs. 6-8
Registered Keepers	(1) daniel60, (2) chris 1, (3) jc, (4) saltcop (k: 6), who also notes: "New batch of juveniles about 3"-4" long.", (5) Dixen (DK), (6) oanes (k: 3), who also notes: "Ive never seen anything like these. Mine are 2" but are already stunning. Its rare to have a catfish who is out during the day, but these do not seek cover while they sleep. They have a sand substrate but they do not seem to be terribly interested in covering themselves. Perhaps the sand is too dense for them. Adding some trumpet snails this evening to help loosen up and aerate the sand. *btw these guys already have a 40g breeder tank (36x18 floor) waiting for them in case they need more bottom surface to swim around on when they grow out!", (7) Norman (k: 4), (8) arapaimag, (9) NielsV (k: 14), (10) Tchitchou44, (11) zipper, (12) altum. Click on a username above to see all that persons registered catfish species. You can also view all "my cats" data for this species. Add this species to your "my cats" page.
Breeding Reports	(1) Norman (b: 27).
More Resources	- Search Planet Catfish for more on Pseudohemiodon apithanos - BBcode (for use in linking to this page from forum posts) - Look up Pseudohemiodon apithanos on AquaticRepublic.com - Look up Pseudohemiodon apithanos on Fishbase, I.T.I.S. or ispecies search. - URL (for use in linking to the species from anywhere on the web)
Hits	19543 hits.
Last Update	2010 Nov 14 06:48 (species record created: 2001 Apr 25 00:00)

Cat-eLog Data Sheet

Scientific Name

Pseudohemiodon apithanos Isbrücker & Nijssen, 1978

Common Name(s)

Chameleon Whiptail

Type Locality

Río Conejo, trib. of Río San Miguel, vicinity of Santa Cecilia, 0°06'N, 76°51'W, Napo Prov., Ecuador.

Pronunciation

seu doh hem ee oh don - ah pith ah noss

Etymology

Greek, pseudes = false + Greek, hemi = half + Greek, odous = teeth The specific name apithanos (Greek) means incredible, an allusion to the variability in colour pattern, which is unique among its numerous sub-familial relatives.

Species Information

Size

180mm (7.1") SL. Find near, nearer or same sized spp.

Identification

A striking and unmistakable fish. I will change colour to virtually all black when disturbed. Normal colouration is a light grey background with a black line that runs from snout, between the eyes and broadens into a band around the dorsal area. Another band appears along the back and the tail fin is black.

Sexing

Mature males will develop their lower lips to allow them to carry egg clutches. Other signs of sexual dimorphism are probably present in mature males but remain, as yet, unreported.

General Remarks

Collected in typical whitewater (pH of 7.2, 27°C) of the Rio Itaya south of Iquitos, Peru - this species is typically exported from Iquitos.

Habitat Information

Distribution

Ecuador / Peru
South America: San Miquel River basin, western Amazon River drainage.
Amazon, Putumayo, San Miguel (Ecuador) (hover or click on these areas to show maps or find other species found there)

6.4 - 7.6

Temperature

26.0-28.0°C or 78.8-82.4°F (Show others within this range)

Other Parameters

Water should be fairly soft.

Husbandry Information

Feeding

Algae wafers, sinking tablets, frozen bloodworm and frozen brineshrimp are all sought out.

Furniture

Large open expanses of sand are required, at least the length of the fish squared. Floating plants will help the fish settle but are not mandatory. Rooted plants will not stay that way for long however. This species is also found in light leaf litter over sand, this may provide a clue as to the 'chameleon' attributes of the fish.

Compatibility

Peaceful and not territorial even among it's own kind.

Breeding

At least one account is documented, as with all members of this genus, it is a lip-brooder.

Further Information

References

Beaufortia v. 27 (no. 339) - pp195 - Figs. 6-8

Registered Keepers

(1) daniel60, (2) chris 1, (3) jc, (4) saltcop (k: 6), who also notes: "New batch of juveniles about 3"-4" long.", (5) Dixen (DK), (6) oanes (k: 3), who also notes: "Ive never seen anything like these. Mine are 2" but are already stunning. Its rare to have a catfish who is out during the day, but these do not seek cover while they sleep. They have a sand substrate but they do not seem to be terribly interested in covering themselves. Perhaps the sand is too dense for them. Adding some trumpet snails this evening to help loosen up and aerate the sand. *btw these guys already have a 40g breeder tank (36x18 floor) waiting for them in case they need more bottom surface to swim around on when they grow out!", (7) Norman (k: 4), (8) arapaimag, (9) NielsV (k: 14), (10) Tchitchou44, (11) zipper, (12) altum.

Click on a username above to see all that persons registered catfish species. You can also view all "my cats" data for this species.

Add this species to your My Cats species list

Add this species to your "my cats" page.

Breeding Reports

(1) Norman (b: 27).

More Resources

- Search Planet Catfish for more on Pseudohemiodon apithanos
Link

- BBcode (for use in linking to this page from forum posts)
Look up AquaticRepublic.com

- Look up Pseudohemiodon apithanos on AquaticRepublic.com
Look up Fishbase

- Look up Pseudohemiodon apithanos on Fishbase, I.T.I.S. or ispecies search.
Link

- URL (for use in linking to the species from anywhere on the web)

Hits

19543 hits.

Last Update

2010 Nov 14 06:48 (species record created: 2001 Apr 25 00:00)

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