Genus
Scleromystax
- Species
- 5
- Photographed
- 5 of 5
- Difficulty rated
- 5 of 5
Where the name comes fromEdit
from the Ancient Greek σκληρός (sklērós), meaning 'hard', and μύσταξ (mústaks), meaning 'upper lip'.
Scleromystax barbatusBanded 'Cory'
Quoy & Gaimard, 1824
The banded 'cory', Scleromystax barbatus, is an armoured catfish from coastal rivers in south-east Brazil, between Rio de Janeiro and Santa Catarina. At 90-100 mm it is the largest of the Corydoradinae, and it was formerly included in Corydoras. The hobby also knows it as 'bearded cory', 'checkerboard cory' and 'filigree cory'. Males are aggressively territorial towards one another and cannot be kept together in smaller aquaria.
Scleromystax macropterusSailfin 'Cory'
Regan, 1913
The sailfin 'cory', Scleromystax macropterus, is an armoured catfish from coastal rivers of southern Brazil and the rio Paraná basin in Paraguay. Most have been collected from small blackwater streams draining directly into the Atlantic, but it also inhabits roadside ditches. Males are somewhat territorial towards one another and should not be kept together in smaller aquaria, and its stiffened pectoral-fin spines can give a painful 'sting'.
Scleromystax prionotos
Nijssen & Isbrücker, 1980
Scleromystax prionotos is an armoured catfish known only from coastal rivers in Minas Gerais, Espírito Santo, Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, Brazil. Like its congeners it is a facultative air breather and occasionally rises to gulp air at the surface. Its stiffened pectoral-fin spines can pierce human skin, so care is needed when handling it.
Scleromystax salmacis
Britto & Reis, 2005
Scleromystax salmacis is a small armoured catfish known only from the rios Mampituba and Araranguá in Santa Catarina state, southern Brazil. It is most similar to S. macropterus but lacks a black spot at the base of the median caudal-fin rays and has more irregular transverse blotches. The dorsal and pectoral fins are equal in length in both sexes, and the type locality was a small, clear, slow-moving pool over mud-covered rock.
Scleromystax sp. C113
authority not recorded
Scleromystax sp. C113 is an unidentified armoured catfish apparently collected in Bahia state, eastern Brazil, south of Salvador da Bahia. Like its congeners it is a facultative air breather and occasionally rises to gulp air at the surface, and its stiffened pectoral-fin spines can give a very painful 'sting'. Males are aggressively territorial towards one another and cannot be kept together in smaller aquaria.