The genus Spatuloricaria consists of 13 scientifically described species. The genus has an extremely wide distribution area from the south of South America (Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, southern Brazil) to Panama in the north. It is also found on both slopes of the Andes. 11 of the 13 species were described by 1945, with two new species being added 70 years later: S. tuira from the Xingu and Tapajós rivers in Brazil (2014) and S. terracanticum from the Orinoco catchment (2018). Unfortunately, these two recent papers, in which the new species to be described must necessarily be differentiated from the existing species, are sometimes somewhat contradictory. In addition, at least one very characteristically colored species from Peru has apparently not yet been scientifically recorded, but is imported from time to time (see: https://www.aquariumglaser.de/en/10-catfishes/spatuloricaria-sp-black-white-peru-2/).
We were once again able to import some very beautiful specimens of this genus of whiptail catfish from Colombia. They were sent as “S. caquetae”. This species does exist, but it looks different. We therefore initially classified the animals as “sp. Colombia” in our stock list. Now the fish have settled in well and we have taken a closer look at them. There is now little doubt that this is the species Spatuloricaria terracanticum, which was newly described in 2018. All anatomical features (markings on the abdominal region and in the cloaca area) and coloration features (broad, curved “sash” behind the head) match the first description perfectly. The largest specimen of S. terracanticum measured to date had a standard length (i.e. without caudal fin) of 28.5 cm. In addition, all Spatuloricaria have a very long filament on the upper edge of the caudal fin.
Males of Spatuloricaria develop an enormous “whisker” during the breeding season, which disappears again after the breeding period. Spatuloricaria are cave breeders that like to spawn on the underside of flat stone slabs. Breeding reports can be found in the German magazine Amazonas, issue 12 (7/8, 2007) on pages 47-55.
Spatuloricaria are mixed feeders with a focus on animal feed. However, they can also be fed flake food based on plant matter, for example. The long, curved fangs in the upper jaw indicate that this species mainly eats snails in nature, as such teeth only make sense in this context: to pull the soft body of the snail out of the shell. Aquarium observations on this subject are still pending.
For our customers: the animals have code 293754 (12-15 cm) and 293755 (18-22 cm) on our stock list. Please note that we only supply the wholesale trade.
Literature:
Fichberg, I., O. T. Oyakawa & M. C. C. de Pinna (2014): The end of an almost 70-year wait: a new species of Spatuloricaria (Siluriformes: Loricariidae) from the Rio Xingu and Rio Tapajós basins. Copeia 2014 (no. 2): 317-324.
Londoño-Burbano, A., A. Urbano-Bonilla, Y. Rojas-Molina, H. Ramírez-Gil & S. Prada-Pedreros (2018): A new species of Spatuloricaria Schultz, 1944 (Siluriformes: Loricariidae), from the Orinoco River basin, Colombia. Copeia v. 106 (no. 4): 611-621.
Text & photos: Frank Schäfer
