Emerald catfish

Emerald catfish
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Siluriformes
Family:	Callichthyidae
Genus:	Corydoras
Species:	C. splendens
Binomial name
	Corydoras splendens; (Castelnau, 1855)
Synonyms
	Callichthys splendensCastelnau, 1855 ; Brochis splendens(Castelnau, 1855) ; Callichthys taioshCastelnau, 1855 ; Brochis dipterusCope, 1872 ; Corydoras semiscutatusCope, 1872 ; Brochis coeruleus Cope, 1872 ; Chaenothorax bicarinatusCope, 1878 ; Chaenothorax eigenmanniM. D. Ellis, 1913 ;

Last updated April 06, 2024

The emerald catfish (Corydoras splendens) is a tropical freshwater fish belonging to the Corydoradinae sub-family of the family Callichthyidae native to the Amazon Basin in South America.^[1] It has traditionally been known as Brochis splendens.^[2] The fish has appeared on a stamp in Brazil.^[3]

Taxonomy

It was originally described as Callichthys splendens by François Louis de la Porte, comte de Castelnau in 1855. This species was once also commonly called Brochis coeruleus. W. A. Gosline was the first to suspect that the two species were the same in 1940, but it was actually Njiseen & Isbrücker, in 1970, who combined the two, giving sufficient reasons for doing so. The species would be described as Brochis splendens, until most of the catfish formerly classified as Brochis were re-classified into Corydoras .^[2] The current recognized classification is thus Corydoras splendens.^[1]

Distribution

It is native to the upper reaches Amazon Basin.^[1] This includes Ucayali River to Pucallpa, Ambiyacu River, and the area around Iquitos in western Brazil, southeastern Colombia, eastern Ecuador and eastern Peru.

Appearance and anatomy

Depending upon the angle of lighting, the fish's body reflects a metallic green, blue-green, or even a bluish color. The ventral area is yellowish with the pectoral, ventral, and anal fins yellowish and the dorsal, caudal, and adipose fins a translucent brownish. The females are larger and more robust than the males, and have a more pinkish belly as opposed to the more yellowish one for the males. This fish can be distinguished from the green/bronze corydoras catfish by its usually larger size, stouter body, and more pointed snout.

The fish inhabits sluggish waters with dense vegetation along the banks.^[1] It occurs in shallow muddy waters and will grow in length up to 7.5 centimetres (3 in).^[1] It lives in a tropical climate in water with a 5.8–8.0 pH, a water hardness of 2–30 dGH, and a temperature range of 22–28 °C (72–82 °F).^[1] It feeds on worms, benthic crustaceans, and insect larvae. It lays eggs in dense vegetation and adults do not guard the eggs.

In the aquarium

The emerald catfish is a common species in freshwater aquaria. It is a peaceful, undemanding species and can be maintained under the same conditions as most Corydoras species. They are shy and easily frightened when kept as individuals, so it is best kept in small groups of at least three, with more being recommended. The tank should have only a soft, fine bottom to prevent damage to barbels and should be heavily planted.^[4] Feeding is not difficult and they accept almost anything, although live worms are especially appreciated.^[5] It does well in a community tank and does not tear up the plants.^[5]

Spawning has been achieved in captivity.^[4] Typically, the fish are separated into a breeding tank in the ratio of three males to two females, all well-conditioned on live foods. The couple will spawn while sitting on the bottom, not while swimming as many similar species do. In captivity, the female collects the eggs in her pelvic fin basket and pastes them individually to plants and other objects. Eggs will be deposited by the female throughout the tank, but especially on any floating surface plants. According to most reports, the parents do not immediately try to eat the eggs. The eggs hatch in about four days and the fry become free swimming two days later.

Related Research Articles

Corydoras is a genus of freshwater catfish in the family Callichthyidae and subfamily Corydoradinae. The species usually have more restricted areas of endemism than other callichthyids, but the area of distribution of the entire genus almost equals the area of distribution of the family, except for Panama where Corydoras is not present. Corydoras species are distributed in South America where they can be found from the east of the Andes to the Atlantic coast, from Trinidad to the Río de la Plata drainage in northern Argentina. Species assigned to Corydoras display a broad diversity of body shapes and coloration. Corydoras are small fish, ranging from 2.5 to 12 cm in SL., and are protected from predators by their body armor and by their sharp, typically venomous spines.

The bronze corydoras, also known as the green corydoras, bronze catfish, lightspot corydoras or wavy catfish, is a species of freshwater fish in the armored catfish family, Callichthyidae, often kept as an aquarium fish. It is widely distributed in South America on the eastern side of the Andes, from Colombia and Trinidad to the Río de la Plata basin; however, as presently defined it is a species complex and a taxonomic review is necessary. It was originally described as Hoplosoma aeneum by Theodore Gill in 1858 and has historically also been referred to as Callichthys aeneus.

Corydoras paleatus is a species of catfish of the family Callichthyidae. Its common names include blue leopard corydoras, mottled corydoras, and peppered catfish. It originates from the lower Paraná River basin and coastal rivers in Uruguay and Brazil.

Corydoras panda is a species of catfish belonging to the genus Corydoras, of the family Callichthyidae, and is a native member of the riverine fauna of South America. It is found in Peru and Ecuador, most notably in the Huánuco region, where it inhabits the Río Aquas, the Río Amarillae, a tributary of the Río Pachitea, and the Río Ucayali river system. The species was first collected by Randolph H. Richards in 1968, and was named Corydoras panda by Nijssen and Isbrücker in 1971. The specific name is an allusion to the appearance of the fish, which possesses large black patches surrounding the eyes, reminiscent of those found on the giant panda. Accordingly, the common names for this fish, which is a popular aquarium species, are panda corydoras and panda catfish.

The banded corydoras or bearded catfish is a subtropical freshwater fish belonging to the subfamily Corydoradinae of the family Callichthyidae. It originates in coastal drainages in South America from Rio de Janeiro to Santa Catarina, Brazil.

The elegant corydoras or elegant catfish is a tropical freshwater fish belonging to the subfamily Corydoradinae of the family Callichthyidae. It originates in inland waters in South America, and is found in the Upper Amazon River basin in Brazil, Colombia and Peru. The specific epithet elegans means elegant.

The Guapore corydoras is a tropical freshwater fish belonging to the subfamily Corydoradinae of the family Callichthyidae. It originates in inland waters in South America, and is found in the Guaporé River basin in Brazil. It is named for the river to which it is native.

The salt and pepper catfish is a tropical freshwater fish belonging to the Corydoradinae sub-family of the family Callichthyidae. It originates in inland waters in South America, and is found in the Upper Orinoco River basin in Venezuela and Colombia.

The dwarf corydoras, dwarf catfish, tail spot pygmy catfish, or micro catfish is a tropical freshwater fish belonging to the subfamily Corydoradinae of the family Callichthyidae. It originates in inland waters in South America, and is found in the Amazon River and Paraguay River basins in Argentina, Bolivia, and Brazil. The specific epithet hastatus means with a spear, in reference to the spearhead-like spot on the tail root.

Corydoras haraldschultzi is a tropical freshwater fish belonging to the Corydoradinae sub-family of the family Callichthyidae. It is found in Brazil and Bolivia.

The blue corydoras or Natterer's catfish is a tropical freshwater fish belonging to the subfamily Corydoradinae of the family Callichthyidae. It originates in coastal rivers in South America, and is found in the Brazil from Espírito Santo to Paraná. It is named for Johann Natterer, its discoverer.

Corydoras pygmaeus, or the pygmy corydoras or pygmy catfish is a tropical and freshwater fish belonging to the subfamily Corydoradinae of the family Callichthyidae. It originates in tropical inland waters in South America, and is found in the Madeira River basin in Brazil.

Corydoras reticulatus, also called the reticulated corydoras, mosaic corydoras, network catfish, or network corydoras, is a tropical freshwater fish belonging to the Corydoradinae sub-family of the family Callichthyidae. It originates in inland waters in South America, and is found in the Lower Amazon River basin in Brazil.

The three stripe corydoras, leopard catfish, false julii corydoras, or three line catfish is a tropical freshwater fish belonging to the subfamily Corydoradinae of the family Callichthyidae. It originates in inland waters in South America, and is found in the central Amazon River basin in Brazil and Colombia, Peruvian [Amazon and coastal rivers in Suriname.

Britski's catfish is a tropical freshwater fish belonging to the subfamily Corydoradinae of the family Callichthyidae native to South America where it is found in the upper Paraguay River basin in Brazil. This species was formerly classified as Brochis britskii.

The hog-nosed catfish is a tropical freshwater fish belonging to the Corydoradinae sub-family of the family Callichthyidae. It is native to South America, and is found in the western Amazon basin in Ecuador and Peru. This species is traditionally placed in Brochis but the genus is a synonym of Corydoras. FishBase continues to recognize Brochis as a valid genus.

The sixray corydoras or false corydoras is a tropical freshwater fish belonging to the Corydoradinae sub-family of the family Callichthyidae. It originates in inland waters in South America, and is found in the upper Araguaia River basin in Brazil.

Farlowella acus is the type species of the armored catfish genus Farlowella. Members of this genus are commonly known as twig catfish or whiptail catfish. The specific name of the species, acus, means “pointed” or a “needle” or “spine”.

Corydoras rabauti, also known as the rust corydoras, or Rabaut's corydoras is a small species of tropical freshwater armoured catfish native to the Upper Amazon, Solimões, and Rio Negro basins in South America. It was first described by the American ichthyologist Francesca Raimonde La Monte in 1941, and is frequently seen in the aquarium trade.

Corydoras imitator is a small species of tropical freshwater armoured catfish native to the Upper Amazon, Solimões, and Rio Negro basins in South America. It was first described by the Dutch icthyologists Han Nijssen and Isaäc J. H. Isbrücker in 1983, and is frequently seen in the aquarium trade.

References

1 2 3 4 5 6 Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2014). "Corydoras splendens" in FishBase . February 2014 version.
1 2 Encyclopedia of Aquarium and Pond Fish (2005) (David Alderton) page 121
↑ FishBase: Gibbons, S., 1999 Collect fish on stamps.
1 2 Sanford, Gina (1999). Aquarium Owner's Guide . New York: DK Publishing. ISBN 0-7894-4614-6.
1 2 Axelrod, Herbert R. (1996). Exotic Tropical Fishes. T.F.H. Publications. ISBN 0-87666-543-1.

Burgess, Warren E. (1987). A Complete Introduction to Corydoras and Related Catfishes. Neptune City, NJ: T.F.H. Publications. ISBN 0-86622-264-2.

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[fishbase-1] 1 2 3 4 5 6 Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2014). "Corydoras splendens" in FishBase . February 2014 version.

[Alderton-2] 1 2 Encyclopedia of Aquarium and Pond Fish (2005) (David Alderton) page 121

[3] FishBase: Gibbons, S., 1999 Collect fish on stamps.

[sanford-4] 1 2 Sanford, Gina (1999). Aquarium Owner's Guide . New York: DK Publishing. ISBN 0-7894-4614-6.

[axelrod-5] 1 2 Axelrod, Herbert R. (1996). Exotic Tropical Fishes. T.F.H. Publications. ISBN 0-87666-543-1.

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