Another climbing loricariid

[Silurus]

Hoese, G, A Addison, T Toulkeridis & R Toomey III, 2015. Observation of the catfish Chaetostoma microps climbing in a cave in Tena, Ecuador. Subterranean Biology 15: 29–35.

Abstract

As part of a mapping and preliminary flora and fauna inventory of hypogean life in caves, developed in Cretaceous limestones in the sub-andean zone of Ecuador, we were able to observe a number of catfish climbing a steep flowstone waterfall in the dark zone of a cave. The waterfall was a minor infeeder to the small stream that flowed through the cave. On investigation the fish were determined to be Chaetostoma microps Günther, 1864 (Siluriformes Loricariidae), a detritivorous–herbivorous neotropical freshwater catfish, endemic to the upper reaches of the Amazon basin in Ecuador. We document the observation of this species exhibiting climbing behavior as well as the first observation of the family exhibiting climbing behavior in a cave. We also document the sympatry of this species and Astroblepus pholeter Collette, 1962 (Siluriformes Astroblepidae).

[bekateen]

A BBC report with link to a YouTube video showing

Chaetostoma microps

move is here:

A catfish in Ecuador is seen climbing a cave wall, the first time such behaviour has been documented in this species