Cat-eLog Right Pseudopimelodidae Right Rhyacoglanis  |  | 

  • Rhyacoglanis pulcherRio Villano, Ecuador
  • Rhyacoglanis pulcherClose-up of head
  • Rhyacoglanis pulcherRio Villano, Dorsal view
  • Rhyacoglanis pulcherCanelos, Ecuador. Dorsal view
  • Rhyacoglanis pulcherRio Villano, Ecuador
  • Rhyacoglanis pulcherVentral view
  • Rhyacoglanis pulcherPectoral spine, dorsal view. Bar = 2mm
  • Rhyacoglanis pulcherPectoral-fin spine, dorsal view. Bar = 2.0 mm
Down Cat-eLog Data Sheet
Scientific Name Rhyacoglanis pulcher    (Boulenger, 1887)
Common Names Båndet Strømmalle (Denmark)
Torrent Bumblebee Catfish
Type Locality Canelos, eastern Ecuador.
Synonym(s) Pimelodus pulcher, Pseudopimelodus pulcher, Pseudopimelodus variolosus
Pronunciation "POOL chair".
Etymology Rhyacoglanis, from the Greek rhyax = torrent + glanis = catfish; indicating a catfish inhabiting running waters in reference to the habitat of the genus. Gender masculine. This specific epithet literally means beautiful (pulcher=beautiful).
Down Species Information
Size 83mm or 3.3" SL. Find near, nearer or same sized spp.
Identification Rhyacoglanis is distinguished from other Pseudopimelodidae by three synapomorphies: presence of a light blotch on the cheek; a connection between the middle of the dark caudal-fin stripe and the dark caudal-peduncle pigmentation; and 30-35 total vertebrae. A key to the species is located HERE.
General Remarks Many Rhyacoglanis specimens with an appearance very similar to R. pulcher have been collected in Peru, Brazil, Bolivia and elsewhere, but R. pulcher sensu stricto is considered limited to Ecuador. Rhyacoglanis specimens from outside Ecuador that look similar are currently considered to be other (likely undescribed) species and are treated here as Rhyacoglanis aff. pulcher.
Down Habitat Information
Distribution South America: upper Amazon River basin, Ecuador.
Amazon, Upper Amazon, Marañón, Pastaza, Bobonaza (click on these areas to find other species found there)
Amazon, Upper Amazon, Napo, Curaray, Villano (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.
Other Parameters Little is known of these fish in the aquarium. Provide good aeration; modest current may be beneficial.
Down Husbandry Information
Furniture See general remarks. Rhyacoglanis likely prefer well-aerated water with significant current over a substrate of rocks, pebbles and sand.
Breeding Unreported.
Breeding Reports There is no breeding report.
Down Further Information
Reference Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London 1887 (pt 2) (art. 2) (for 1 Mar. 1887), pp 276, Pl. 21 (fig. 1).
Registered Keepers There is no registered keeper.
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There are 2 records of this fish being seen, view them all.
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Rhyacoglanis pulcher QR code LFS label creator
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Last Update 2025 Jan 02 01:40 (species record created: 2005 Apr 17 00:00)