The new species of sucker mouth catfish incoming class of armored catfish are found in Ecuador. Armored catfish is a type of catfish whose body has a hard bone plate that is sometimes called armored catfish.
Scientists from DePaul University, Windson Aguirre, found five specimens of fish in 2008 in Santa Rosa River. He then sent the specimen to Auburn University in Alabama for identification.
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| Unique catfish Found in Ecuador |
"When we realized that this new, actually not so surprised. Family fish are increasing in number every year," said lead researcher Milton Tan from Auburn University.What makes Tan is interested in the characteristics of a 7-inch catfish is. Unlike their relatives, catfish do not have hard bone plate on the side of his head.
Name this new species of catfish is Cordylancistrus santarosensis, according to the name of the river where found.
Not a bone plate on the side of the head suggests that this species is the "missing link" between fish and other Cordylancistrus Chaetostoma genus having hard bone in the section.
"This is important because the fish species in Ecuador is not too diverse, (and we want) people to know (no fish) in Ecuador is unique and only found there," Tan said, as quoted by National Geographic, Tuesday (10/04/2012) .
Santarosensis Cordylancistrus species discovery is published in the journal Zootaxa, March 22, 2012.