''Cephalosilurus'' is a small

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus comes above species and below family. In binomial n ...

catfish Catfish (or catfishes; order Siluriformes or Nematognathi) are a diverse group of ray-finned fish. Named for their prominent barbels, which resemble a cat's whiskers, catfish range in size and behavior from the three largest species alive, ...

es (

order Order, ORDER or Orders may refer to: * Categorization, the process in which ideas and objects are recognized, differentiated, and understood * Heterarchy, a system of organization wherein the elements have the potential to be ranked a number of ...

Siluriformes) of the

family Family (from la, familia) is a group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its members and of society. Idea ...

Pseudopimelodidae The Pseudopimelodidae are a small family (about 40 species) of catfishes known as the bumblebee catfishes or dwarf marbled catfishes. Some of these fish are popular aquarium fish. Taxonomy This family was formerly a subfamily of Pimelodidae. Pse ...

Species

There are currently four recognized species in this genus: * ''

Cephalosilurus albomarginatus ''Cephalosilurus'' is a small genus of catfishes (order Siluriformes) of the family Pseudopimelodidae. Species There are currently four recognized species in this genus: * '' Cephalosilurus albomarginatus'' ( Eigenmann, 1912) * ''Cephalosilur ...

'' (

Eigenmann Eigenmann is a surname. Notable persons with that surname include: * Andi Eigenmann (born 1990), Filipino actress * Carl H. Eigenmann (1863–1927), German–American ichthyologist, husband of Rosa Eigenmann * Eduardo de Mesa Eigenmann, birth name ...

, 1912) * ''

Cephalosilurus apurensis ''Cephalosilurus'' is a small genus of catfishes (order (biology), order Siluriformes) of the family (biology), family Pseudopimelodidae. Species There are currently four recognized species in this genus: * ''Cephalosilurus albomarginatus'' (Car ...

'' ( Mees, 1978) * ''

Cephalosilurus fowleri ''Cephalosilurus'' is a small genus of catfishes (order Siluriformes) of the family Pseudopimelodidae. Species There are currently four recognized species in this genus: * '' Cephalosilurus albomarginatus'' ( Eigenmann, 1912) * ''Cephalosilur ...

'' Haseman, 1911 * ''

Cephalosilurus nigricaudus ''Cephalosilurus'' is a small genus of catfishes (order Siluriformes) of the family Pseudopimelodidae. Species There are currently four recognized species in this genus: * '' Cephalosilurus albomarginatus'' ( Eigenmann, 1912) * ''Cephalosilur ...

'' ( Mees, 1974)

Distribution

''Cephalosilurus'' species originate from

South America South America is a continent entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere at the northern tip of the continent. It can also be described as the souther ...

. ''C. albomarginatus'' is found in Tukeit, Guyana. ''C. apurensis'' is distributed in the

Rio Arichuna Rio or Río is the Portuguese, Spanish, Italian, and Maltese word for " river". When spoken on its own, the word often means Rio de Janeiro, a major city in Brazil. Rio or Río may also refer to: Geography Brazil * Rio de Janeiro * Rio do Sul, ...

Apure Apure State ( es, Estado Apure, ) is one of the 23 states of Venezuela. Its territory formed part of the provinces of Mérida, Maracaibo, and Barinas, in accordance with successive territorial ordinations pronounced by the colonial authori ...

Venezuela Venezuela (; ), officially the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela ( es, link=no, República Bolivariana de Venezuela), is a country on the northern coast of South America, consisting of a continental landmass and many islands and islets in ...

. ''C. fowleri'' originates from the

São Francisco River The São Francisco River (, ) is a large river in Brazil. With a length of , it is the longest river that runs entirely in Brazilian territory, and the fourth longest in South America and overall in Brazil (after the Amazon, the Paraná and t ...

basin. ''C. nigricaudus'' is found in the

Sipaliwini District Sipaliwini is the largest district of Suriname, located in the south. Sipaliwini is the only district that does not have a regional capital, as it is directly administered by the national government in Paramaribo. History Sipaliwini was created ...

Suriname Suriname (; srn, Sranankondre or ), officially the Republic of Suriname ( nl, Republiek Suriname , srn, Ripolik fu Sranan), is a country on the northeastern Atlantic coast of South America. It is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the north ...

Description

''Cephalosilurus'' species have a great range in size. ''C. albomarginatus'' reaches 8.5 centimetres (3.3 in) SL. ''C. apurensis'' grows to a length of 29 cm (11 in) SL. ''C. fowleri'' can grow to 40 cm (16 in) TL. ''C. nigricaudus'' reaches a length of 35 cm (14 in) TL.

Ecology

''C. albomarginatus'' is known to occur over sand and gravel partially covered with mud, leaves and dead wood. ''C. nigricaudus'' occurs in pools and in the backwater of rapids and fast streams with sand, rocks, and decaying wood on the bottom; it is found together with '' Bryconops caudomaculatus'', ''

Characidium blennoides ''Characidium'' is a genus of fish in the family Crenuchidae (South American darters). They are mainly found in South America, but ''C. marshi'' is from Panama. They are small (less than long), slender fish that live on the bottom in flowing f ...

'', ''

Pimelodella cristata ''Pimelodella'' is a genus of three-barbeled catfishes. ''Pimelodella'' is the largest genus in the family. However, it is in need of taxonomic revision. This genus is found on both sides of the Andes, ranging from Panama to Paraguay and southe ...

'', ''

Leporinus friderici ''Leporinus'' is a genus of fish in the family Anostomidae native to South America. The fossil species ''Leporinus scalabrinii'', known from the late Miocene of Entre Ríos in Argentina, has only recently been added to this genus after being mi ...

'' and ''

Astyanax meunieri In Greek mythology, Astyanax (; grc, Ἀστυάναξ ''Astyánax'', "lord of the city") was the son of Hector, the crown prince of Troy, and his wife, Princess Andromache of Cilician Thebe."Astyanax". ''Oxford Classical Dictionary''. Oxford ...

''.

In the aquarium

''C. fowleri'' may be kept in the aquarium. This fish is an aggressive species and should be kept alone or with fish that are much larger than it. Though large, it is sedentary and does not require as much room as a similarly-sized active species of fish might. These fish should be fed sparingly and the aquarium kept clean.

References

* Ros, Christopher an
Ros, Wolfgang(2007): "Cephalosilurus apurensis - Ein gefräßiger Lauerräuber, aber nicht ohne Charme"
Datz 60 (5): 38-42. Full English version of this article ("Cephalosilurus apurensis, a voracious ambush-predator not without charm") o
Planetcatfish
an

Ros, Wolfgang
(2008): Cephalosilurus nigricaudus und seine Abgrenzung zu Cephalosilurus apurensis
40 (1), Nr. 199, 34-36
Full English version of this article ("Cephalosilurus nigricaudus and its similarity to C. apurensis") o

Ros, Wolfgang
(2008)
"Besser als sein Ruf: Cephalosilurus fowleri", Online Aquarium-Magazin (OAM) 7/08
3-7. English version of this article ("Better than its reputation, a look at Cephalosilurus fowleri") o

{{Taxonbar, from=Q5063324 Pseudopimelodidae Fish of South America Catfish genera Freshwater fish genera Taxa named by John Diederich Haseman