Morphologic features and feeding analysis of the black catfish Trachelyopterus lucenai Bertoletti, Pezzi da Silva & Pereira (Siluriformes, Auchenipteridae)

MORESCO¹, A. & BEMVENUTI², M. de A.

^1,2 Laboratório de Ictiologia, Departamento de Oceanografia, Fundação Universidade Federal do Rio Grande. Caixa Postal 474, 96201-900 Rio Grande, RS, Brasil. e-mail= ¹ alexbio@bol.com.br; ² docmab@furg.br

ABSTRACT: Trachelyopterus lucenai was described for the Patos Lagoon complex and the basin of the River Uruguay (RS). Its occurrence was extended to the swamp region, close to the Taim Ecological Station and the Mirim and Mangueira coastal lagoons, in Rio Grande do Sul. Two hundred and thirty seven individuals were used in order to characterize the species’ morphology, its strategy and feeding analysis. Trachelyopterus lucenai is a brown colored catfish, with a bulky body, and black spots over its body - more numerous in the dorsal region. In males the first rays of the anal fin were shown to have a projection that aids fecundation. The species has a generalist feeding behaviour, generally preying on insects and fish.

Key-words: Swamp, Taim, feeding, morphology.