Colomesus

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The genus Colomesus includes two species of pufferfish confined to tropical South America. Apart from differences in size, the two species are superficially similar, being green above, white below, and patterned with black transverse bands across the dorsal surface.

The type species, Colomesus psittacus is a euryhaline species that moves freely between freshwater and the sea. Colomesus psittacus is the larger of the two species, reaching around 30 cm long when mature.
The second species, Colomesus asellus, is normally only found in freshwater environments although it will tolerate slightly brackish water. Colomesus asellus is relatively small, specimens in aquaria at least rarely getting any larger than about 8 cm in length. Compared with Colomesus psittacus, the black bands on the back are much thicker, and it also has a distinctive black band that rings the base of the caudal fin.

Colomesus psittacus and Colomesus asellus feed primarily on shelled invertebrates such as molluscs and crustaceans. They have a powerful beak with which their prey is cracked open. Colomesus asellus also feeds extensively on insects, particularly mosquito and midge larvae. Like other pufferfish, they have the ability to inflate themselves when threatened, making themselves much larger and therefore more difficult for predators to handle or swallow. Colomesus asellus is unusual among freshwater pufferfish for being quite commonly found in loose shoals. They breed during the wet season, spawning in rivers, with the numerous small eggs being scattered on the substrate and the larvae drifting downstream (Carlos Araujo-Lima et al., 1994).

Colomesus psittacus is found all along the Western Atlantic coastline of South America from the Gulf of Paria down to the mouth of the Amazon River in Brazil. Colomesus asellus is confined to the Amazon River basin from Brazil as far west as Peru.

Contents

1 ''Colomesus'' spp. in aquaria
2 Described Species
3 References
4 External Links

Colomesus spp. in aquaria

Colomesus asellus is fairly widely kept as an aquarium fish. It needs plenty of swimming space, a strong water current, and preferably a sandy substrate as this species does like to dig. Compared to other freshwater pufferfish, Colomesus asellus is relatively peaceful and usually works well in mixed species community tanks. Being a schooling fish, it does best when kept in groups.

Because of its large size and need for salt water, Colomesus psittacus is rarely kept in home aquaria, but it is otherwise similar Colomesus asellus in terms of maintenance.

Described Species

Colomesus asellus South American Freshwater Puffer
Colomesus psittacus Banded Puffer, Parrot Puffer

References

Carlos Araujo-Lima, Daniela Savastano, & Luciana Cardeliquio Jordao (1994): Drift of Colomesus asellus (Teleostei: Tetraodontidae) larvae in the Amazon River. Revue d’Hydrobiologie Tropicale 27: 33-38. [link]
Ebert, Klaus (2001): The Puffers of Fresh and Brackish Water, Aqualog, ISBN 3-031702-60-X

External Links

[FishBase]

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