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Down Cat-eLog Data Sheet
Scientific Name Auchenipterus nigripinnis  (Boulenger, 1895)
Common Name Paraguay Shark-cat
Type Locality Paraguay.
Synonym(s) Auchenipterus paysanduanus, Euanemus nigripinnis
Pronunciation awk en NIP terr uss
Etymology Auchenipterus: From the Greek, auchenos, meaning neck and pteron, meaning fin; in reference to the long cranial shield, which gives the appearance that the dorsal fin originates at the neck region. 
Down Species Information
Size 202mm or 8" SL. Find near, nearer or same sized spp.
Identification Looks very much like a juvenile Pangasianodon hypophthalmus to the untrained eye. More barbels and the tail pattern should give it away.
Sexing Males have a genital papilla, thickened maxillary barbels and an enlarged dorsal spine. Sexually mature at 80 mm SL.
General Remarks Active during the day, which makes this a very visible auchenipterid.
Down Habitat Information
Distribution South America: La Plata River basin to Argentina.
La Plata (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 2020.
Temperature 10.0-28.0°C or 50-82.4°F (Show species within this range)
Other Parameters Can be found in waters with a temperature as low as 10°C so if kept at more normal tropical temperatures heavy aeration is advised.
Down Husbandry Information
Feeding Feeds happily on all kinds of food. User data.
Furniture This species does hardly hide. It usually rests on the sand or in plants; certainly not in driftwood. Free swimming space is much more important.
Suggested Tankmates Very skittish. Avoid fishes that are (too) curious, territorial and/or may nip or even bite.
Breeding Unreported.
Breeding Reports There is no breeding report.
Down Further Information
Reference Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London 1895 (pt 3), pp 524.
Registered Keepers There are 5 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 Oct 13 03:29 (species record created: 2008 Apr 25 07:24)