Cat-eLog Right Doradidae Right Doradinae Right Acanthodoras  |  | 

Down Cat-eLog Data Sheet
Scientific Name Acanthodoras spinosissimus  (Eigenmann & Eigenmann, 1888)
Common Names Chocolate Talking Catfish
Chocolate Raphael, Croaking Catfish, Dornwels (Germany), Talende Malle (Denmark)
Type Locality Lago do Coari on Rio Solimões at Coari [Coary], Amazonas, Brazil.
Synonym(s) Doras brunnescens, Doras spinosissimus
Pronunciation ah KAN tho door ass
Etymology Acanthodoras: From the Greek akantha, meaning thorn, and doras, meaning skin (also a word commonly used in forming generic names for doradids); in reference to the spines on the bony scutes along the lateral line. spinosissimus: From the Latin superlative of spinosus (spiny), meaning the most spiny.
Down Species Information
Size 137mm or 5.4" SL. Find near, nearer or same sized spp.
Identification The only genus of doradid with a fully rounded caudal fin.

Can be differentiated from A. cataphractus by the lateral body plates of the caudal peduncle meeting above and below (except the last one), whereas in A. cataphractus the last four or five pairs are separated. A. spinosissimus also has a broader, spinier, post cleithral process ('humeral process').
General Remarks Said to produce toxic fluids, these have been photographed and look like white milky liquid - the toxicity of this fluid and the reason for its production has not been studied or explained.
Down Habitat Information
Distribution South America: Amazon and Essequibo River basins.
Amazon (click on these areas to find other species found there)
Guyana Waters, Coastal Rivers of Guyanas, Essequibo (click on these areas to find other species found there)

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Down Husbandry Information
Feeding Mainly a nocturnal feeder. Will eat dried foods (pellets etc) as well as frozen and live aquatic foods, and earthworms. User data.
Compatibility Usually peaceful but there has been one report of large specimens fighting with congeners to the point of poisoning each other.
Breeding Unreported.
Breeding Reports There is but a single breeding report, read it here.
Down Further Information
Reference Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences (Series 2) v. 1 (pt 2), pp 161.
Registered Keepers There are 9 registered keepers, 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 2019 Sep 14 03:44 (species record created: 2001 Apr 19 00:00)