With stream tanks becoming all the rage, here’s one catfish the flow lover should keep eyes peeled for.
WORDS: ABHISEK MISHRA AND STEVEN GRANT
CATFISHES ARE POPULAR in aquariums across the world, with Corydoras and Loricariids (plecs) leading the way. However, the order Silurformes (the catfishes) contains around 4,200 valid species, with Corydoradinae and Loricariidae only accounting for less than a third. This leaves a few thousand species as potential alternatives, if the keeper is willing to also include the more unusual and nocturnal species.
One such family of catfishes is the Amblycipitidae, which contains just under 50 valid species (with more to be described). Restricted to Asian waters, they are sometimes called ‘torrent catfishes’ or ‘biting catfishes’, but don’t those names put you off.
Amblycipids are occasionally imported into the UK, most usually as Amblyceps mangois. This is the oldest Amblyceps species known to science and swims in waters of the Indian subcontinent. It is a catch-all name given by exporters as the differences between Amblyceps species can be quite subtle to the naked eye.
One to look for
One species that is relatively easy to identify is the fish shown here—Amblyceps cerinum, which is native to the upper reaches of the Brahmaputra River system in India. It is readily identified from most congeners in having a truncated caudal fin margin. There are three other species with a truncated caudal fin although they are not normally exported.
Amblyceps cerinum can be distinguished from them by one or more of the following characteristics: the upper jaw is longer than lower; it has an incomplete lateral line (ending underneath the area around the dorsal fin); and the end of the adipose fin is separated from caudal-fin rays by a distinct notch.
With its enlarged head, small eyes and large barbels, Amblyceps cerinum is generally perceived as somewhat comical, and hence given the name ‘funny face catfish’ in the Indian trade. The etymology of the species name is derived from the Latin term ‘cerinus’, which translates to ‘wax coloured’ due to the yellowish coloration of the species.
Amblyceps cerinum is frequently collected for the aquarium trade from northern part of West Bengal state, India, where it is found from several rivers originating from the Himalayas. These rivers include Raidak 1 (there are two Raidak rivers), Teesta, Sankosh, and Chel, all of which are right bank tributaries of th
