Creature Feature – Jaguar Catfish
This week is the letter ‘J’, and today’s featured creature is the Jaguar Catfish.
The Jaguar Catfish is a highly patterned species of driftwood catfish endemic to Brazil. Little is known about them in the wild but, like other catfish species, is a bottom-dweller and is usually a solitary species.
Taxonomy
Scientific Name: Lisomadoras oncinus
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Order: Siluriformes
Family: Auchenipteridae
Genus: Lisomadoras
© Fishipedia
The Japanese Catfish Fact File
Size: Individuals measure between 17-20cm in length
Distribution: Endemic to Brazil, they can be found in the Branco River and in the Trombetas River
Diet: They are a flexible carnivore, and prey can include small invertebrates and algae
Behaviour: Nocturnal, they spend their days hidden among submerged logs and tree roots. They are generally peaceful but can be territorial
IUCN Status: Least Concern. Though popular in the aquarium trade, more data is needed
