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Adrian Payne (1) Julian Dignall (4) Daniel Konn-Vetterlein (1) Karsten Schönherr (1) CP Aqua Studio (2)

Males develop an extended dorsal fin and pectoral spines and sexually mature males sport bristles on the cheeks. Similar markings as to the lineage 9 species Hoplisoma paleatum. Becoming rare now in exports. As with all Scleromystax species they will fare better in cooler temperatures. Lineage: All Scleromystax species belong to Lineage 3 and would remain as Scleromystax (Günther, 1864) with the designated type species of Scleromystax barbatus (Quoy & Gaimard, 1824). As of the latest update (Dias et al 2024), Scleromystax macropterus has been placed in Lineage 3 and has retained the genus name of Scleromystax. Aquarium Care: Sometimes the males of Scleromystax species can get aggressive to other males so maybe one male to a group may be the best way to go if there are conflicts in the aquarium. As with most members of the Callichthyidae they are peaceful. The Scleromystax genera are good additions to "cool water" aquarium set ups with maybe other cool water fish such as White Cloud Mountain Minnows and other fish that are comfortable with a temperature around the 70°f (21.5°c) mark. Diet: As with other members of the Corydoradinae they relish tablet and good quality flake food with frozen bloodworm a firm favourite. They are also keen on chopped earthworms and other worm foods such as white worm used sparingly, and grindal worm. Etymology: The specific name macropterus: Large wing, (referring to the fins).

High-fin Corydoras

Corydoras bertoni, Corydoras macropterus

Callichthyidae

South America: Coastal rivers of Brazil from São Paulo to Santa Catarina States, and some tributaries of the upper Paraná River. Type Locality: Brazil; Paraná, Paranaguá (25°32’S, 48°36’W).

Male: 6.5cm (2½ins) Female: 7.0cm (2¾ins)

20-24°C (67-75°F)

6.0-7.5.

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.
Ian A. M. Fuller & Hans-Georg Evers (2011). Identifying Corydoradinae Catfish Supplement 1. Ian Fuller Enterprises.
Reis, R.E. 2003 Callichthyidae (Armored catfishes). p. 291-309. In: R.E. Reis, S.O. Kullander and C.J. Ferraris, Jr. (eds.) Checklist of the Freshwater Fishes of South and Central America. Porto Alegre: EDIPUCRS, Brasil.
ScotCat Factsheet no. 125. Nov. 2006.
ScotCat Factsheet no. 312. June. 2022.