| Family: |
Trichomycteridae (Pencil or parasitic catfishes), subfamily: Trichomycterinae |
| Max. size: |
10.25 cm SL (male/unsexed) |
| Environment: |
benthopelagic; freshwater; pH range: 7.9 - 8.1; depth range - 230 m |
| Distribution: |
South America: Colombia (Las Sardinas and Caracol caves).. |
| Diagnosis: |
Vertebrae: 37-37. This species is distinguished by the advanced condition in the typical troglomorphisms found in other congeneric cave-dwelling species, such as the absence of eyes and pigmentation. It is distinguished by the following putative autapomorphies: presence of a circular foramen in the main body of the interopercle, dorsal to the interopercular plate supporting the odontodes; presence of a single sensory pore in the posteriormost section of the infraorbital canal; differs from its congeners known from Colombia by having the supraorbital canal interrupted in the nasal section, resulting in the pattern of s1, s2, s3, and s6 sensory pores, and the lachrimal/antorbital bone not enclosing the anteriormost section of the infraorbital canal (Ref. 119411). |
| Biology: |
Specimens of this species were collected at 230 m (dark section) inside the northern opening and in the epigean section of the interconnecting stream, while collecting efforts both in the epigean and hypogean systems failed to capture any other fish species in the region (Ref. 119411). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Vulnerable (VU); Date assessed: 25 August 2020 (D1) Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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