Megalechis

This species was previously referred to as M. thoracata, but that name is now applied to the species with a relatively short dorsal-fin spine which was formerly known as M. personata. M. picta can be told apart from M. thoracata by presence of a dark vertical bar in the caudal-fin, a comparatively longer dorsal-fin spine (52.0-64.0% vs. 32.0-48.0% of dorsal-fin base in specimens measur...

Still widely referred to as hoplosternum thoracatum the hoplo cat is a popular and hardy fish. These fish have the ability to breathe atmospheric air by gulping down mouthfuls of air and the oxygen is then absorbed into the bloodstream through the intestine. This allows the fish to endure poor conditions in the wild but it can still be observed exhibiting this behaviour in captivity. The hoplo is also eaten as a food fish in parts of South America....