Crenicichla urosema Kullander, 1990 Group: Wallaci Distribution: Lower Rio Tapajos, Brazil, near the town of Sao Luis. Type Locality: Rocky pool at São Luiz upstream of Itaituba, Rio Tapajos, State of Para, Brazil Size: 3-4 inches Comments: A rarely imported Rio Tapajos endemic. These fish are found individually in the wild and are often associated with rocky areas. They prefer waters that don't have a very strong current even though they are powerful and capable swimmers able to negotiate the rapids. They were found in water with a pH of 5.5 and 20uS hardness. Recorded temperature was about 86 F. They can be spawned in aquaria if fed copious amounts of live foods and water is very clean, soft and acidic. They are unique amoung dwarf pikes in having a very large unocellated black spot on the caudal peduncle - their specific name refers to this characteristic. Females do not sport dorsal spots like in C. regani - these females have a white submarginal band on the dorsal fin. The unpaired fins on breeding males are bright red. They are relatively aggressive for dwarf pikes and will require a tank that is at least 3-4 feet long, decorated with a lot of rocks and sand. In its description, Kullanders suggests that the closest realtive to this species is the undescribed C. cf. regani from Rio Xingu. Described in: Ichthyological Exploration of Freshwaters 1 (1); p 86 Described in: Back to ==> Home / Pike Photos / C. urosema Back to Species list Home Pikes Neotropicals Collecting Photography Personal Links Site map http://geocities.datacellar.net/NapaValley/5491 Latest update: 25 September 1999 Comments on this page: E-Mail author