Megalodoras

Megalodoras
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Siluriformes
Family:	Doradidae
Genus:	Megalodoras Eigenmann, 1925
Species
Megalodoras guayoensis Megalodoras uranoscopus
Synonyms
Hoplodoras Eigenmann, 1925 Deltadoras Fernández-Yépez, 1968

Megalodoras is a small genus of catfishes (order Siluriformes) of the family Doradidae. This genus contains two species, M. guayoensis and M. uranoscopus.^[1]

Distribution

Megalodoras species are distributed in South America. M. guayoensis is found in the Orinoco River basin.^[2] M. uranoscopus inhabits the Amazon, Tocantins, and Essequibo River basins.^[3]

Description

M. guayoensis may reach 53 centimetres (21 in) SL.^[2] Male M. uranoscopus reach 53 cm (21 in) SL while females reach 60 cm (24 in) SL.^[3]

Ecology

M. uranoscopus occurs in small groups and occasionally forms schools. This species inhabits rivers. M. uranoscopus is mainly diurnal. These fish feed on the fruits of Licania longipetala and Astrocaryum jauary and also feeds on pulmonate snails.^[3]

In the aquarium

M. uranoscopus is reported as an uncommon species in the aquarium fish hobby, where it may be known as the giant raphael catfish. They are a large species and require a large aquarium, but otherwise are peaceful and hardy, accepting a variety of foods. Hiding places should be provided for these fish.^[4][5]

References

1. ^ Ferraris, Carl J., Jr. (2007). "Checklist of catfishes, recent and fossil (Osteichthyes: Siluriformes), and catalogue of siluriform primary types" (PDF). Zootaxa 1418: 1–628. http://silurus.acnatsci.org/ACSI/library/biblios/2007_Ferraris_Catfish_Checklist.pdf. 
2. ^ ^{a b} Froese, Rainer, and Daniel Pauly, eds. (2007). "Megalodoras guayoensis" in FishBase. June 2007 version.
3. ^ ^{a b c} Froese, Rainer, and Daniel Pauly, eds. (2007). "Megalodoras uranoscopus" in FishBase. June 2007 version.
4. ^ "PlanetCatfish::Cat-eLog::Doradidae::Megalodoras uranoscopus". 2006-01-04. http://www.planetcatfish.com/catelog/species.php?species_id=143. Retrieved 2007-06-10. 
5. ^ "Megalodoras urunoscopus Eigenmann, 1925". ScotCat. 2006-04-20. http://www.scotcat.com/factsheets/m_urunoscopus.htm. Retrieved 2007-06-10.