Trichomycterus punctulatus | |
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Actinopterygii |
Order: | Siluriformes |
Family: | Trichomycteridae |
Genus: | Trichomycterus |
Species: | T. punctulatus
|
Binomial name | |
Trichomycterus punctulatus Valenciennes, 1846
|
Trichomycterus punctulatus is a species of fish of the family Trichomycteridae, native to freshwater habitats in western Peru. [1] This elongated catfish can reach a length of 19.5 cm (7.7 in). [2]
This nocturnal freshwater fish is endemic to western Peru, ranging at least from Lambayeque and Cajamarca [3] to Tacna. [4] It mostly lives in rivers and streams, but can also be found in habitats such as small lakes and paddy fields. [3] It is an opportunistic predator that mainly feeds on insects, [5] but also will take small crustaceans and plant material (algae and remains of phanerogams). [2]
It is fished and plays an important role in the local cuisine in northern Peru, where this species is known as life, pronounced "lee-fey", or life monsefuano (dishes: panquitas de life or sudado de life). [3] [6] Although it can be difficult to ascertain the exact species depicted in the artwork of the ancient Moche culture, [7] it was likely T. punctulatus that was important in their mythology where perhaps recognized as a connection between light and darkness. [2] [3] In excavations of Huaca de la Luna, more than one-quarter of all fish bones were this species, revealing that it already played an important role as a food to the Moche. [6]
Trichomycterus punctulatus | |
---|---|
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Actinopterygii |
Order: | Siluriformes |
Family: | Trichomycteridae |
Genus: | Trichomycterus |
Species: | T. punctulatus
|
Binomial name | |
Trichomycterus punctulatus Valenciennes, 1846
|
Trichomycterus punctulatus is a species of fish of the family Trichomycteridae, native to freshwater habitats in western Peru. [1] This elongated catfish can reach a length of 19.5 cm (7.7 in). [2]
This nocturnal freshwater fish is endemic to western Peru, ranging at least from Lambayeque and Cajamarca [3] to Tacna. [4] It mostly lives in rivers and streams, but can also be found in habitats such as small lakes and paddy fields. [3] It is an opportunistic predator that mainly feeds on insects, [5] but also will take small crustaceans and plant material (algae and remains of phanerogams). [2]
It is fished and plays an important role in the local cuisine in northern Peru, where this species is known as life, pronounced "lee-fey", or life monsefuano (dishes: panquitas de life or sudado de life). [3] [6] Although it can be difficult to ascertain the exact species depicted in the artwork of the ancient Moche culture, [7] it was likely T. punctulatus that was important in their mythology where perhaps recognized as a connection between light and darkness. [2] [3] In excavations of Huaca de la Luna, more than one-quarter of all fish bones were this species, revealing that it already played an important role as a food to the Moche. [6]