Hoplosternum littorale (Hancock, 1828)
Atipa
Hoplosternum littorale
photo by Landines, M.

Family:  Callichthyidae (Callichthyid armored catfishes), subfamily: Callichthyinae
Max. size:  26.3 cm TL (male/unsexed); max. reported age: 4 years
Environment:  demersal; freshwater; depth range - 1 m
Distribution:  South America: Most Cis-Andean South American river drainages north of Buenos Aires, Argentina (Ref. 37395). Introduced in the USA (Ref. 104645).
Diagnosis:   
Biology:  Inhabits swamps (Ref. 11225). During the rainy season, adults consume a great quantity of chironomids associated with detritus. During the dry season, they feed mostly on terrestrial insects, micro-crustaceans, aquatic Diptera, and detritus. Absorbs a great quantity of anaerobic bacteria from the substrate (Ref. 27188). First reproduction occurs after one year (Ref. 35381). Used to be cultured commercially in Guyana (Ref. 7306). Cultured in Trinidad on a semi-commercial scale (Ref. 11225).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 15 October 2020 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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