Cat-eLog Right Auchenipteridae Right Auchenipterinae Right Spinipterus  |  | 

Down Cat-eLog Data Sheet
Scientific Name Spinipterus acsi  Akama & Ferraris, 2011
Common Name
Type Locality Caño "Santa Rita" (right bank tributary of river Nanay), 3.32 mi north-west of center of Iquitos, 3°45'23"S, 73°17'28"W, Maynas Province, Depto. Loreto, Peru.
Pronunciation spi NIP terr uss.
Down Species Information
Size 80mm or 3.1" SL. Find near, nearer or same sized spp.
Identification Some of the unique features which distinguish Spinipterus from other auchenipterids are: pectoral and dorsal-fin spines with four prominent rows of serrations; lateral margin of the skull roofing bones ornamented with a single row of spines; and adducted dorsal fin rests into a mid-dorsal groove. Spinipterus also differs from most other auchenipterid genera by having lower counts for some fin rays.

At a first glance this species looks like a miniature Trachycorystes. The colour (reddish brown) is rather unusual for an Auchenipterid.
Sexing As with all Auchenipteridae, mature males exhibit a modified anal fin which is used for internal fertilization.
General Remarks A very shy species that needs extra attention, especially in the beginning. One must see to it that it feeds well, otherwise it just starves. Feeding should take place after lights out. Doesn't like the company of larger fish. Once settled it looses its shyness and gets more and more visible. Contrary to most other auchenipterids, this species will not let go once its hiding place is above and/or out of the water, so see to it that it doesn't suffocate by accident.
Down Habitat Information
Distribution Upper Amazon
Amazon, Upper Amazon, Nanay (click on these areas to find other species found there)
Amazon, Juruá (click on these areas to find other species found there)

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IUCN Red List Category Data Deficient, range map and more is available on the IUCN species page. Last assessed 2020.
pH 6.4 - 7.0
Temperature 22.0-30.0°C or 71.6-86°F (Show species within this range)
Down Husbandry Information
Feeding When new in a tank, it can only - and with great difficulty - be lured out of its hiding place with frozen foods, especially mosquito larvae. Will not take flakes or pellets in the beginning; it actually takes a lot of time before they get used to these kinds of dry food. User data.
Furniture Lots of driftwood.
Compatibility Smaller or equally sized fishes, which shouldn't be aggressive. Dither fish may prove very useful to make this species less shy.
Suggested Tankmates Other small Auchenipteridae and/or Callichthyidae (Corydoras, Dianema) combined with a school of Characins and/or Cyprinids.
Breeding Unreported.
Breeding Reports There is no breeding report.
Down Further Information
Reference Zootaxa No. 2992, pp 53, Figs. 1-3.
Registered Keepers There are 3 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 2020 Nov 08 14:42 (species record created: 2006 Jul 14 00:00)