Heptapterus carnatus

Heptapterus carnatus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Siluriformes
Family: Heptapteridae
Genus: Heptapterus
Species:
H. carnatus
Binomial name
Heptapterus carnatus
Faustino‐Fuster, Bockmann & Malabarba, 2019[1]

Heptapterus carnatus is a species of three-barbed catfish in the family Heptapteridae and is native to freshwater systems of southeastern Brazil.[2][3]

Description

Heptapterus carnatus is characterized by a robust, moderately elongate body with a rounded snout and small eyes. The head is depressed and broader than long, and the mouth is terminal with three pairs of barbels (one maxillary and two mandibular pairs). The body coloration is pale to yellowish with darker dorsal shading and faint mottling.[4] Diagnostic features distinguishing H. carnatus from congeners include:

  • A relatively deep body (vs. more slender congeners such as H. mustelinus).[4]
  • Adipose fin beginning posterior to the dorsal fin, extending nearly to the caudal base.[4]
  • Anal-fin base short, positioned beneath the posterior half of the adipose fin.[4]
  • Distinctively shaped caudal peduncle that is slightly compressed.[4]

The maximum recorded standard length as approximately 11.4 cm for unsexed specimens.[5]

References

  1. ^ "Heptapterus carnatus Faustino-Fuster, Bockmann & Malabarba, 2019". Global Biodiversity Information Facility. Retrieved 1 December 2025.
  2. ^ taxonomy. "Taxonomy Browser (Heptapterus carnatus)". www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. Retrieved 2025-12-01.
  3. ^ "PlanetCatfish.com - Heptapterus carnatus (Heptapteridae) Cat-eLog". PlanetCatfish.com. Retrieved 2025-11-12.
  4. ^ a b c d e Faustino-Fuster, Dario R.; Bockmann, Flávio A.; Malabarba, Luiz R. (23 January 2019). "Two new species of Heptapterus (Siluriformes: Heptapteridae) from the Uruguay River basin, Brazil". Journal of Fish Biology. 94 (3): 352–373. doi:10.1111/jfb.13908. ISSN 1095-8649. PMID 30671956.
  5. ^ Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Heptapterus carnatus". FishBase. Retrieved 2025-11-12.