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Teleostei (teleosts) > Siluriformes (Catfishes) > Trichomycteridae (Pencil or parasitic catfishes) > Trichomycterinae
Etymology: Trichomycterus: Greek, thrix = hair + Greek, mykter, -eros = nose (Ref. 45335); rubbioli: Named for Ezio Rubbioli, speleologist, the first explorer of Serra do Ramalho caves, who brought this new species to the attention of the authors. A noun in apposition.
Eponymy: Ezio Luiz Rubbioli (d: 1964) is a Brazilian speleologist who was the first person to explore the Serra do Ramalho caves. He co-wrote: Mapping of Caverns (2005). He brought this species to the authors’ attention. (Ref. 128868), visit book page.

Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range Ecology

Freshwater; demersal. Tropical

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South America: subterranean waters in at least two caves of the same cave system in the Serra do Ramalho karst area, middle São Francisco River basin, Brazil: Lapa dos Peixes and Gruna da Água Clara.

Size / Weight / Age

Maturity: L_m ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 6.4 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 91769)

Short description Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics

Dorsal soft rays (total): 9; Anal soft rays: 7. Can be easily distinguished from epigean and most hypogean congeners by three distinctive, non-exclusive characters: highly reduced skin pigmentation (except for Trichomycterus gorgona and cave-restricted congeners, Trichomycterus chaberti, Trichomycterus itacarambiensis, Trichomycterus spelaeus, Trichomycterus sandovali, Trichomycterus santanderensis, Trichomycterus uisae and Trichomycterus dali); reduced eyes, visible externally as small black or reddish-brown spots (except for Trichomycterus gorgona and the hypogean Trichomycterus chaberti, Trichomycterus itacarambiensis, Trichomycterus santanderensis, Trichomycterus uisae and Trichomycterus sketi); and barbels long, especially nasal (86.9-127.1% of HL) and maxillary (98.1-129.3% of HL) (except for Trichomycterus longibarbatus and the hypogean Trichomycterus spelaeus, Trichomycterus santanderensis, Trichomycterus uisae, Trichomycterus sketi and Trichomycterus dali). These characters, in combination, separate this species from all hypogean congeners except for Trichomycterus santanderensis and Trichomycterus uisae. Further differs from almost all congeners, including Trichomycterus santanderensis and Trichomycterus uisae (except for Trichomycterus hualco, Trichomycterus sketi and Trichomycterus dali) by having I, 9 pectoral-fin rays (Ref. 91769).

Occurs in limestone caves. Found concentrated in places with the bottom formed by clay and small blocks of limestone, usually hiding under these blocks and inside crevices in the walls, thereby allowing a strong cryptobiotic habit. When not hidden, this species prefers to stay on the bottom and on walls (rcky and silt substrate) with occasional incursions into the midwater and surface. Inhabits water bodies formed by infiltration in the rock, and, because of this, it must be considered fragile and as a priority in conservation programs of Brazilian karstic areas (Ref. 91769).

Life cycle and mating behavior Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae

Main reference Upload your references | References | Coordinator : Pinna, Mário de | Collaborators

Bichuette, M.E. and P.P. Rizzato, 2012. A new species of cave catfish from Brazil, Trichomycterus rubbioli sp.n., from Serra do Ramalho karstic area, São Francisco River basin, Bahia State (Silurifomes: Trichomycteridae). Zootaxa 3480:48-66. (Ref. 91769)

IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-1)

Endangered (EN) (B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii)); Date assessed: 07 November 2018

CITES

Not Evaluated

CMS (Ref. 116361)

Not Evaluated

Threat to humans

Harmless

Human uses

FAO - Publication: search | FishSource |

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Estimates based on models

Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref. 82804): PD₅₀ = 0.5000 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].

Bayesian length-weight: a=0.00851 (0.00358 - 0.02025), b=2.93 (2.74 - 3.12), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this Genus-body shape (Ref. 93245).

Trophic level (Ref. 69278): 3.2 ±0.4 se; based on size and trophs of closest relatives

Fishing Vulnerability (Ref. 59153): Low vulnerability (10 of 100).

Trichomycterus rubbioli Bichuette & Rizzato, 2012