The Xingu River is a 1,640 km (1,020 mi) river in north Brazil. It is a southeast tributary of the Amazon River and one of the largest clearwater rivers in the Amazon basin, accounting for about 5% of its water.
Loricariidae is the largest family of catfish, with 92 genera and just over 680 species. Loricariids originate from freshwater habitats of Costa Rica, Panama, and tropical and subtropical South America. These fish are noted for the bony plates covering their bodies and their suckermouths. Several genera are sold as "plecos", notably the suckermouth catfish, Hypostomus plecostomus, and are popular as aquarium fish.
Hypostomus is a genus of catfish in the family Loricariidae. They are native to tropical and subtropical South America. H. plecostomus is the popular freshwater aquarium fish formerly known as Plecostomus plecostomus. The taxonomic structure of the Loricariidae is still being expanded by scientists. Hypostomus is a highly species-rich and widely distributed catfish genus.
The Doradidae are a family of catfishes also known as thorny catfishes, raphael catfishes or talking catfishes. These fish are native to South America, primarily the Amazon basin and the Guianas.
The striped Raphael catfish is a catfish of the family Doradidae. It may also be called Southern striped Raphael, talking catfish, chocolate doradid, chocolate catfish or thorny catfish. It is native to the Amazon, Paraguay–Paraná and lower Orinoco basins in South America. This peaceful, nocturnal species is a popular aquarium fish due to its pleasant temperament and curious nature. Despite its name "talking catfish", it does not speak.
Raphael catfish may refer to a number of different South American doradid catfish species:
Platydoras is a small genus of thorny catfishes native to freshwater habitats in subtropical and tropical South America.
Kalyptodoras bahiensis is the only species in the genus Kalyptodoras of the catfish family Doradidae. This species is endemic to Brazil where it is found in the Paraguaçu River in the northeast and reaches a length of 24.5 centimetres (9.6 in) SL.
Acanthodoras is a genus of thorny catfishes native to rivers of tropical South America.
Acanthodoras spinosissimus, the talking catfish, is a species of thorny catfish found in the Amazon and Essequibo River basins, occurring in Brazil, Colombia, Guyana, and Peru. This species grows to 13.7 cm (5.4 in) in SL and can be found in the aquarium trade. This species is reported to produce toxic fluids.
The giant talking catfish or giant raphael catfish is a species of thorny catfish that is native to the Amazon Basin in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru. This species grows to a length of 60 centimetres (24 in) SL and a maximum weight of 4.6 kilograms (10 lb). These fish are harvested in local commercial fisheries.
Agamyxis is a genus of thorny catfishes.
Agamyxis albomaculatus is an omnivorous species of thorny catfish endemic to the Orinoco River in Venezuela. This species grows to a length of 15 centimetres (5.9 in) SL. This species is found in the aquarium trade, but is less frequent than the similar and closely relative Agamyxis pectinifrons. Although the common name spotted raphael catfish most often refers to that species, it is occasionally used for Agamyxis albomaculatus.
Agamyxis pectinifrons, the spotted talking catfish, spotted raphael catfish or whitebarred catfish, is a species of thorny catfish found in the Amazon basin where it has been recorded from Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia and Peru. This species grows to a length of 15 centimetres (5.9 in) SL.
Leptodoras is a genus of thorny catfishes native to South America.
Oxydoras niger, the ripsaw catfish or cuiu cuiu, is a species of thorny catfish native to the Amazon, Essequibo and São Francisco basins in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru and Venezuela. This species grows to a length of 100 centimetres (39 in) SL and weights up to 13 kilograms (29 lb). This species is a minor component of local commercial fisheries. It has lateral thorns that can damage any potential predator or handler. It feeds by shifting through sand and detecting eatable parts with the taste receptors in the roof and floor of its mouth.
Hassar is a genus of thorny catfishes native to South America.
Harttia is a genus of armored catfishes native to South America.
Amblydoras nauticus, the marbled talking catfish or marbled raphael catfish, is a species of thorny catfish endemic to Peru where it is found in the upper Amazon basin. This species grows to a length of 7.5 centimetres (3.0 in) SL.
The granulated catfish is a species of thorny catfish found in the Paraná and Amazon basin as well as the coastal drainages of Suriname and Guyana. This species is commercially caught for human consumption as well as being displayed in public aquaria.
