Aspidoras taurus

Aspidoras: from the Ancient Greek ἀσπίς (aspis), meaning 'shield', and δορά (dora), meaning 'skin, hide of an animal', in allusion to the rows of bony plates on the flanks of genus members.

taurus: from the Latin taurus, meaning 'bull', in reference to its robust appearance.

Known only from the upper rio Itiquira and upper rio Taquari, both tributaries within the rio Paraguay system, Mato Grosso State, Brazil.

Type locality is 'River Itiquira, River Paraguai system, 16°56'S, 53°32'W, Fazenda Cabeceira do Itiquira, close to highway BR-364, Alto Garças, Mato Grosso State, Brazil'.

An aquarium with minimum base dimensions of 75 ∗ 30 cm30 ∗ 12 in or more is recommended.

Ideally use a substrate of fine sand, although rounded gravel is an acceptable alternative provided it's kept scrupulously clean.

Other décor is largely down to personal choice, but some cover should be provided to give the fish security.

This species requires stable, clean water conditions and should never be added to a biologically immature set-up.

Aspidoras spp. are foraging omnivores and will accept most sinking dried foods, as well as small live and frozen varieties such as chironomid larvae (bloodworm), Tubifex, etc.

Feeding a varied diet will ensure the fish are in optimum condition.

Under no circumstances should they be expected to survive on 'left-overs' from other inhabitants of the aquarium or relied on to 'clean' the aquarium.

Peaceful and gregarious. Should be maintained in a group of at least 4-6 individuals.

This species is relatively common in the aquarium trade but is sometimes mislabelled as A. menezesi, a valid but distinct species.

A. taurus can be told apart from congeners by the following combination of characters: infraorbitals and preopercle covered by thick skin and not visible externally (vs. covered by thin skin and externally visible in other Aspidoras); nuchal plate reduced, covered by thick skin and not visible externally (vs. well developed, covered by thin skin and visible externally); lateral line absent posterior to two small lateral line ossicles (vs. lateral line present on at least first body plate).