Cat-eLog Right Loricariidae Right Loricariinae Right Sturisomatichthys  |  | 

  • Sturisomatichthys panamensisWild caught at locality shown
  • Sturisomatichthys panamensisSouthern Panama
  • Sturisomatichthys panamensisClose-up of head-Southern Panama
  • Sturisomatichthys panamensisHabitat: Rio Ipeti: Panama
Down Cat-eLog Data Sheet
Scientific Name Sturisomatichthys panamensis  (Eigenmann & Eigenmann, 1889)
Common Names Royal Twig Catfish
Panama-Bartwels (Germany), Panama-størsugemalle (Denmark)
Type Locality Panama.
Synonym(s) Loricaria panamensis
Etymology (German)Sturio=Sturgeon + (Greek) soma=body + (Greek) -ichthys=fish. The specific epithet is for the species country of origin, Panama.
Down Species Information
Size 200mm or 7.9" SL. Find near, nearer or same sized spp.
Identification Sturisoma and Sturisomatichthys can be difficult to tell apart. Older descriptions of the genera emphasized the length of the snout (elongated in Sturisoma), but this trait is not reliable across species. Recent analyses allow discrimination based on the abdominal plates, fin colors and lateral plates: Sturisoma has its central abdominal plates arranged in three clearly-defined longitudinal series; all fins (except sometimes pectoral fins) lack dark spots; and 20–21 lateral plates in median series. Sturisomatichthys has its central abdominal plates less organized, not arranged in clearly-defined longitudinal series; dark spots usually present on one or more of the dorsal-, pectoral-, pelvic, or anal-fins; and 15–18 lateral plates in median series. Furthermore, to date all Sturisoma are cis-Andean; most (but not all) Sturisomatichthys are trans-Andean.

Another elegant species confused with S. festivum (and thus S. aureum). This species can be distinguished by the fins which, while spectacular, do not have the trailing extensions of S. festivum.
General Remarks In the wild this species can be found in a water temperature of about 25°C, pH 7.4 and in strong current.
Down Habitat Information
Distribution Central and South America: Pacific slope rivers of Panama, Colombia, and Ecuador; Caribbean slope rivers of Colombia.
Panama Pacific Rivers (click on these areas to find other species found there)
Colombia Caribbean Rivers (click on these areas to find other species found there)
Colombia Pacific Rivers (click on these areas to find other species found there)
Ecuador Pacific Coast Rivers (click on these areas to find other species found there)

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IUCN Red List Category Least Concern, range map and more is available on the IUCN species page. Last assessed 2019.
pH 6.5 - 7.2
Temperature 26.0-29.0°C or 78.8-84.2°F (Show species within this range)
Down Husbandry Information
Breeding Unreported.
Breeding Reports There is no breeding report.
Down Further Information
Reference Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences (Series 2) v. 2, pp34.
Registered Keepers There is but a single registered keeper, view all "my cats" data.
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There are 3 records of this fish being seen, view them all.
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Last Update 2023 Aug 12 05:40 (species record created: 2001 Apr 29 00:00)