How to Identify White-bridled Dwarf Suckermouth Catfish

To identify White-bridled Dwarf Suckermouth Catfish (Hisonotus leucofrenatus), look at these key features.

Physical Characteristics

Body shape

flat

Coloration

The body is generally light brown to olive-green, often with irregular darker blotches or saddles along the dorsal surface. A prominent feature is a pale, often whitish or yellowish, stripe (the 'bridle') extending from the snout, through the eye, and along the lateral line, sometimes breaking into spots posteriorly. The ventral surface is typically lighter, often whitish. Fins are hyaline with some dark spotting or banding.

Scale type

none

Mouth position

inferior

Distinctive features

Small size, typically reaching 3-4 cm (1.2-1.6 inches) standard length., Flattened ventral profile., Presence of a pale, often white or yellowish, stripe extending from the snout through the eye and along the lateral line., Body covered in bony plates, characteristic of Loricariidae., Ventral mouth with a suckermouth disc.

Dorsal fin

Single dorsal fin, typically with 1 spine and 7 soft rays. Originates posterior to the pectoral fin insertion.

Tail fin

Caudal fin is forked, with the lower lobe often slightly longer than the upper.

Pectoral fin

Pectoral fins are broad and horizontally oriented, with a strong spine and several soft rays. Used for adhesion and maneuvering.

Distinctive fins

Adipose fin absent. Pelvic fins are also horizontally oriented and contribute to the flattened ventral profile.

Identification Tips

1. 1

   Size and Shape

   Look for a very small (under 4 cm SL), flattened catfish with a suckermouth.

2. 2

   Coloration and Markings

   Identify the pale, often white or yellowish, stripe running from the snout through the eye and along the lateral line. This 'bridle' is a key diagnostic feature.

3. 3

   Fin Structure

   Note the absence of an adipose fin and the presence of a single dorsal fin.

4. 4

   Geographic Origin

   Confirming its origin from the lower Paraná River basin helps differentiate it from similar species found elsewhere.

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