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Takayuki Shimizu (1) Tencatt et al (2) Hans-Georg Evers (4)

CW172 has now been described by Tencatt et al. in 2022. Habitat: Corydoras (now Hoplisoma) psamathos is currently known from the main channel of the Rio Jamanxim and one of its tributaries, the igarapé Santa Júlia, Rio Tapajós basin Novo Progresso Municipality, Pará State, Brazil. (Tencatt et al.). Lineage: Placed in Lineage 9, the "short-snouted" species with the designated type species: C. punctatus. A revision and a description in the future would constitute the resurrection of the genus name Hoplisoma (Agassiz, 1846). As of the latest revision (Dias et al 2024) Corydoras psamathos has now been placed in Lineage 9 and has the new genus name of Hoplisoma. Colouration: Similar to the colour pattern of preserved specimens, but with light ground colour of body and slightly more evident stripe from anteroventral portion of eye to upper lip lateral area. Body covered by greenish yellow iridescent colouration. Some aquarium specimens with greyish-white ground colour of body (Tencatt et al.). Aquarium Care: This is akin to most of this genus, very peaceful, and would be best housed with small to medium sized tankmates such as Tetras, Rasboras and Danios or in a species tank for breeding purposes. Best to purchase 6 individuals or more as they will be happier in a group. Sexual Differences: Similar to the described for Hoplisoma thanatos, except by the absence of elongated dorsal fin in males, which was not observed so far in both wild caught or aquarium specimens (Tencatt et al). Diet: Readily accepts a mixed and varied diet which includes granular foods, tablet food, frozen bloodworm and good quality flake. Etymology: The specific epithet “psamathos” refers to Psamathos Psamathides, the oldest wizard among the Psamathists, the sand sorcerers, a fictional character created by J. R. R. Tolkien in his book Roverandom. The name derives from the Greek psammos, which means sand. The name alludes to the sand-dwelling behavior of the new species. A noun in apposition. Remarks: This species is still found on some online sources as Corydoras psamathos.

CW172

Corydoras psamathos

Callichthyidae

South America: Brazil, Pará State, Novo Progresso Municipality, Rio Jamanxim basin, Rio Tapajós drainage.

Male: 3.5cm (1¼ins) Female: 4.0cm (1½ins)

23-27°C (73-81°F)

6.0-7.2.

Alexandrou, Markos & Taylor, Martin. (2011). Evolution, ecology and taxonomy of the Corydoradinae revisited.
Angelica C Dias, Luiz F C Tencatt, Fabio F Roxo, Gabriel de Souza da Costa Silva, Sérgio A Santos, Marcelo R Britto, Martin I Taylor, Claudio Oliveira, Phylogenomic analyses in the complex Neotropical subfamily Corydoradinae (Siluriformes: Callichthyidae) with a new classification based on morphological and molecular data, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2024;, zlae053.
Tencatt LFC, Ohara WM, Sousa LM, Britto MR. Science and hobby joining forces for the discovery of three new Corydoras (Siluriformes: Callichthyidae) from the rio Tapajós basin, Brazil, with comments on Corydoras sp. CW111. Neotrop Ichthyol. 2022; 20(3):e220070.
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