Megalechis thoracata

Megalechis thoracata
250 px
Conservation status
Not evaluated (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Siluriformes
Family:	Callichthyidae
Subfamily:	Callichthyinae
Genus:	Megalechis
Species:	M. thoracata
Binomial name
Megalechis thoracata (Valenciennes, 1840)
Synonyms
Callichthys exaratus Müller & Troschel, 1848 Callichthys longifilis Valenciennes, 1840 Callichthys personatus Ranzani, 1841 Callichthys thoracatus Valenciennes, 1840 Hoplosternum personatus (Ranzani, 1841) Hoplosternum thoracatum (Valenciennes, 1840) Hoplosternum thoracatum surinamensis Hoedeman, 1952 Hoplosternum thoracatum thoracatum (Valenciennes, 1840) Hoplosternum thoracatum var. niger (Valenciennes, 1840) Megalechis personata (Ranzani, 1841)

Megalechis thoracata (Black Marble Hoplo) is a species of catfish of the family Callichthyidae. M. thoracata is found east of the Andes in the Amazon, Orinoco, and upper Paraguay River basins, as well as in the coastal rivers of the Guianas and northern Brazil. Recent introductions were recorded in the upper Paraná River drainage.

Ecology

M. thoracata has been observed to produce sounds during territorial behavior in males at their nest sites and especially during spawning, and during aggressive behavior in both sexes. M. thoracata males aggressively defend territories against intruders.

References

• Froese, Rainer and Pauly, Daniel, eds. (2011). "Megalechis thoracata" in FishBase. December 2011 version.