PlanetCatfish.com - Spinipterus acsi (Auchenipteridae) Cat-eLog

Close-up of head

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.
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.
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) Login to view the map.
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)
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.
Further Information
Reference	Zootaxa No. 2992, pp 53, Figs. 1-3.
Registered Keepers	There are 3 registered keepers, view all "my cats" data.
Wishlists	Love this species? Click the heart to add it to your wish list. There is but a single wish to keep this species, see who wants what.
Spotters	Spotted this species somewhere? Click the binoculars! There are 3 records of this fish being seen, view them all.
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	LFS label creator ARN ref:1.22.619.1885
Last Update	2025 Jan 01 11:53 (species record created: 2006 Jul 14 00:00)