Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Corydoras melanotaenia
Contents
Taxonomy
Ecology
In the aquarium
Species
See also
References Corydoras sterbai
Scientific classification
Taxonomy Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
The name Corydoras is derived from the Greek kory (helmet) and
doras (skin).[5] Corydoras is by far the largest genus of Neotropical Class: Actinopterygii
fishes with more than 160 species.[5] It is the sole genus in the tribe Order: Siluriformes
Corydoradini.[6] C. difluviatilis is recognized as the basalmost
species of Corydoradini, exhibiting several plesiomorphic features Family: Callichthyidae
compared to the other species of Corydoras.[6][3] The type species Tribe: Corydoradini
for this genus is Corydoras geoffroy.[5] Several hundred species are
Hoedeman, 1952
not yet classified, but kept by aquarists. These species are given 'C-
numbers', originally devised by Hans-Georg Evers for the German Genus: Corydoras
fishkeeping magazine DATZ in 1993. In 2006, 153 C-numbers had Lacépède, 1803
been assigned, of which 32 had been assigned appropriate scientific
names.[7] Type species
Corydoras geoffroy
The species C. barbatus, C. macropterus and C. prionotos have
Lacépède, 1803
been reclassified into the genus Scleromystax.[6] Brochis had been
differentiated from Corydoras due to the higher number of dorsal Synonyms
fin rays; however, Brochis has recently been suggested to be a Brochis Cope, 1871
synonym of Corydoras.[6] This is contested and has not been
Chaenothorax Cope, 1878
universally accepted. The sixray corydoras belongs in Aspidoras.[8]
Cordorinus Rafinesque, 1815
Ecology Gastrodermus Cope, 1878
Hoplisoma Swainson, 1838
Corydoras are generally found in smaller-sized streams, along the
margins of larger rivers, in marshes, and in ponds.[2] They are Microcorydoras Myers, 1953
native to slow-moving and almost still (but seldom stagnant) streams Osteogaster Cope, 1894
and small rivers of South America, where the water is shallow and
very murky. Most species are bottom-dwellers, foraging in sand,
gravel or detritus.[2] The banks and sides of the streams are covered with a dense growth of plants and this is
where the corys are found. They inhabit a wide variety of water types but tend toward soft, neutral to slightly
acidic or slightly alkaline pH and 5-10 degrees of hardness. They can tolerate only a small amount of salt
(some species tolerate none at all) and do not inhabit environments with tidal influences. They are often seen in
shoals.[2] Most species prefer being in groups and many species are found in schools or aggregations of
hundreds or even thousands of individuals, usually of a single species, but occasionally with other species
mixed in. Unlike most catfishes, which are nocturnal, these species are active during the daytime.[2]
Their main food is bottom-dwelling insects and insect larvae and various worms, as well as some vegetable
matter. Although no corys are piscivorous, they will eat flesh from dead fishes. Their feeding method is to
search the bottom with their sensory barbels and suck up food items with their mouth, often burying their snout
up to their eyes.
In several species of Corydoras, it has been observed that the fishes, after initial evasive reaction to threat, lie
still; this is suggested to be a form of cryptic behavior. However, it is also argued that most species do not have
cryptic coloration nor freezing behavior and continue to exist,[2] likely due to their armor and venom. A few
species of Otocinclus: (O. affinis, O. flexilis, O. mimulus and O. xakriaba) are considered to be Batesian
mimics of certain Corydoras species (C. diphyes, C. garbei, C. nattereri and C. paleatus, respectively). These
species have bony plates of armor and strong, frequently venomous [9] spines as defenses, making them less
palatable; by mimicking these species in size and coloration, Otocinclus avoid predation.[2]
A unique form of insemination has been described in Corydoras aeneus. When these fish reproduce, the male
will present his abdomen to the female. The female will attach her mouth to the male's genital opening,
creating the well-known "T-position" many Corydoras exhibit during courtship. The female will then drink
the sperm. The sperm rapidly moves through her intestines and is discharged together with her eggs into a
pouch formed by her pelvic fins. The female can then swim away and deposit the pouch somewhere else
alone. Because the T-position is exhibited in other species than just C. aeneus, it is likely that this behavior is
common in the genus.[10]
In the aquarium
The genus is well known among aquarists for its many ornamental species.[11] They are well suited to tropical
freshwater community aquariums, as they get along well with other species and are not aggressive. Corydoras
are quite timid and are recommended to be kept in shoals of six or more. Corys are mostly bottom feeders, so
they should be offered sinking pellets as well as supplements of live and frozen foods. If flake foods are used,
care should be taken to prevent all food from being eaten by faster moving fish at the higher levels of the tank.
Most corys prefer soft, acidic water. They can, however, tolerate a wide range of water conditions, including
temperatures that are cooler than tropical. They do not do well in fish tanks with high nitrate levels. This ion
leads to the infection of the barbels, which will shorten and become useless. The barbels may also be affected
by constant contact with a sharp substrate. Contrary to popular belief, these fish can be kept in a tank with
gravel, as long as there are no sharp edges on the gravel without affecting their barbels, although they do
prefer sand substrate. They are more likely to thrive if there is an open area of substrate on the bottom of the
tank where they can obtain submerged food. It is a myth that salt cannot be used on this species of fish as a
means of parasite medication. Salt can be added to the water of the Corydoras catfish in order to rid the fish of
ich. These fish are fairly easy to keep, being peaceful, hardy, active and entertaining. Occasionally they will
dart to the surface, sticking their snout above the water for an instant to take a "breath" of air. This behavior is
perfectly normal and is not an indication that anything is wrong with the fish. However, if this is done in
excess, it can indicate poor water conditions.
Where investigated Corydoras sp. have been shown to be diurnal and crepuscular rather than nocturnal and
activity can even peak at twilight.[12] Corydoras are very good choices for a community aquarium and are
widely kept throughout the world. Their longevity in the aquarium is noteworthy; C. aeneus is said to have
lived 27 years in captivity and 20 years is not too uncommon.
Species
There are currently 161 recognized species in this genus:
See also
List of Corydoras species
List of freshwater aquarium fish species
References
1. Reis, R.E. (1996). "Corydoras" (http://www.tolweb.org/Corydoras/15344). Tree of Life Web
Project.
2. Axenrot, T.E. & Kullander, S.O. (2003): Corydoras diphyes (Siluriformes: Callichthyidae) and
Otocinclus mimulus (Siluriformes: Loricariidae), two new species of catfishes from Paraguay, a
case of mimetic association. (http://www.ecology.su.se/pdfs/axenrot/fish.pdf) Archived (https://w
eb.archive.org/web/20090205144416/http://www.ecology.su.se/pdfs/axenrot/fish.pdf) 2009-02-
05 at the Wayback Machine Ichthyological Exploration of Freshwaters, 14 (3): 249–272.
3. Britto M.R., Castro R.M.C. (2002). "New Corydoradine Catfish (Siluriformes: Callichthyidae)
from the Upper Paraná and São Francisco: The Sister Group of Brochis and Most of Corydoras
Species". Copeia. 2002 (4): 1006–1015. doi:10.1643/0045-
8511(2002)002[1006:nccscf]2.0.co;2 (https://doi.org/10.1643%2F0045-8511%282002%2900
2%5B1006%3Anccscf%5D2.0.co%3B2).
4. Wright JJ (2009). "Diversity, phylogenetic distribution, and origins of venomous catfishes" (http
s://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2791775). BMC Evol Biol. 9: 282.
doi:10.1186/1471-2148-9-282 (https://doi.org/10.1186%2F1471-2148-9-282). PMC 2791775 (ht
tps://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2791775). PMID 19961571 (https://pubmed.ncbi.n
lm.nih.gov/19961571).
5. Froese, Rainer and Pauly, Daniel, eds. (2016). Species of Corydoras (http://www.fishbase.org/i
dentification/SpeciesList.php?genus=Corydoras) in FishBase. January 2016 version.
6. Britto, M.R. (2003): Phylogeny of the subfamily Corydoradinae Hoedeman, 1952 (Siluriformes:
Callichthyidae), with a definition of its genera. (http://acd.ufrj.br/ppgzoo/orientadores/dados/Arti
gos%20Brito/Phylogeny%20Corydoradinae%20(Britto).pdf) Archived (https://web.archive.org/w
eb/20070928020843/http://acd.ufrj.br/ppgzoo/orientadores/dados/Artigos%20Brito/Phylogeny%
20Corydoradinae%20%28Britto%29.pdf) September 28, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, 153 (1): 119-154.
7. Evers, H.-G. (2006). "A system called "C-Numbers" " (https://web.archive.org/web/2006061920
5425/http://www.corydorasworld.com/c_numbers). Archived from the original (http://www.corydo
rasworld.com/c_numbers) on 2006-06-19.
8. Froese, Rainer and Pauly, Daniel, eds. (2016). "Aspidoras pauciradiatus" (http://www.fishbase.
org/summary/SpeciesSummary.php?genusname=Aspidoras&speciesname=pauciradiatus) in
FishBase. January 2016 version.
9. https://www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/features/articles/handle-those-catfish-with-care
10. Kohda M., Tanimura M., Kikue-Nakamura M., Yamagishi S. (1995). "Sperm drinking by female
catfishes: a novel mode of insemination" (https://web.archive.org/web/20170808162332/http://is
tellas.gr/aquarium/articles/corydoras.pdf) (PDF). Environmental Biology of Fishes. 42 (1): 1–6.
doi:10.1007/bf00002344 (https://doi.org/10.1007%2Fbf00002344). Archived from the original (h
ttp://www.istellas.gr/aquarium/articles/corydoras.pdf) (PDF) on 2017-08-08. Retrieved
2016-08-03.
11. Huysentruyt F., Adriaens D. (2005). "Descriptive osteology of Corydoras aeneus (Siluriformes:
Callichthyidae)" (http://www.evomorph.ugent.be/Publications/Publ35.pdf) (PDF). Cybium. 29
(3): 261–273.
12. Paxton C.G.M. (1997). "Shoaling and activity levels in Corydoras". Journal of Fish Biology. 51
(3): 496–502. doi:10.1111/j.1095-8649.1997.tb01507.x (https://doi.org/10.1111%2Fj.1095-864
9.1997.tb01507.x).
13. Espíndola, V.C., Spencer, M.R.S., Rocha, L.R. & Britto, M.R. (2014): A new species of
Corydoras Lacépède (Siluriformes: Callichtyidae) from the rio Tapajós basin and its
phylogenetic implications. (http://www.scielo.br/pdf/paz/v54n3/01.pdf) Papéis Avulsos de
Zoologia, 54 (3): 25-32.
14. Tencatt, L.F.C. & Britto, M.R. (2016): A new Corydoras Lacépède, 1803 (Siluriformes:
Callichthyidae) from the rio Araguaia basin, Brazil, with comments about Corydoras
araguaiaensis Sands, 1990. Neotropical Ichthyology, 14 (1): e150062.
15. Tencatt, L.F.C. & Ohara, W.M. (2016): Two new species of Corydoras Lacépède, 1803
(Siluriformes: Callichthyidae) from the rio Madeira basin, Brazil. Neotropical Ichthyology, 14 (1):
e150063.
16. Tencatt L.F.C., Ohara W.M. (2016). "A new long-snouted species of Corydoras Lacépède, 1803
(Siluriformes: Callichthyidae) from the rio Madeira basin". Zootaxa. 4144 (3): 430–442.
doi:10.11646/zootaxa.4144.3.9 (https://doi.org/10.11646%2Fzootaxa.4144.3.9).
17. Ottoni F.P., Barbosa M.A., Katz A.M. (2016). "A new Corydoras from floodplain swamps of the
São Francisco river basin, northeastern Brazil" (http://www.pfeil-verlag.de/04biol/pdf/spix39_1_
21.pdf) (PDF). Spixiana. 39 (1): 131–140.
18. Tencatt, L.F.C., Britto, M.R.d. & Pavanelli, C.S. (2016): Revisionary study of the armored catfish
Corydoras paleatus (Jenyns, 1842) (Siluriformes: Callichthyidae) over 180 years after its
discovery by Darwin, with description of a new species. Neotropical Ichthyology, 14 (1):
e150089.
19. Tencatt L.F.C., Britto M.R., Pavanelli C.S. (2014). "A new long-finned Corydoras Lacépède,
1803 (Siluriformes: Callichthyidae) from the lower rio Paraná basin, Brazil" (http://www.scielo.b
r/pdf/ni/v12n1/1679-6225-ni-12-01-00071.pdf) (PDF). Neotropical Ichthyology. 12 (1): 71–79.
doi:10.1590/s1679-62252014000100007 (https://doi.org/10.1590%2Fs1679-62252014000100
007).
20. Tencatt L.F.C., Pavanelli C.S. (2015). "Redescription of Corydoras guapore Knaack, 1961
(Siluriformes: Callichthyidae), a midwater Corydoradinae species from the rio Guaporé basin"
(http://www.scielo.br/pdf/ni/v13n2/1679-6225-ni-13-02-00287.pdf) (PDF). Neotropical
Ichthyology. 13 (2): 287–296. doi:10.1590/1982-0224-20150018 (https://doi.org/10.1590%2F19
82-0224-20150018).
21. Ohara W.M., Tencatt L.F.C., Britto M.R. (2016). "Wrapped in flames: Corydoras hephaestus, a
new remarkably colored species from the Rio Madeira basin (Teleostei: Callichthyidae)".
Zootaxa. 4170 (3): 539–552. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.4170.3.7 (https://doi.org/10.11646%2Fzoota
xa.4170.3.7).
22. Tencatt, L.F.C. & Evers, H.-G. (2016): A new species of Corydoras Lacépède, 1803
(Siluriformes: Callichthyidae) from the río Madre de Dios basin, Peru. Neotropical Ichthyology,
14 (1): e150019.
23. Tencatt L.F.C., Britto M.R., Pavanelli C.S. (2014). "A new species of Corydoras Lacépède, 1803
(Siluriformes: Callichthyidae) from the upper rio Paraná basin, Brazil" (http://www.scielo.br/pdf/
ni/v12n1/1679-6225-ni-12-01-00089.pdf) (PDF). Neotropical Ichthyology. 12 (1): 89–96.
doi:10.1590/s1679-62252014000100009 (https://doi.org/10.1590%2Fs1679-62252014000100
009).
24. Tencatt L.F.C., Vera-Alcaraz H.S., Britto M.R., Pavanelli C.S. (2013). "A new Corydoras
Lacépède, 1803 (Siluriformes: Callichthyidae) from the rio São Francisco basin, Brazil" (http://w
ww.scielo.br/pdf/ni/v11n2/1679-6225-ni-11-02-0257.pdf) (PDF). Neotropical Ichthyology. 11 (2):
257–264. doi:10.1590/s1679-62252013000200003 (https://doi.org/10.1590%2Fs1679-622520
13000200003).
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License; additional terms may apply. By using this
site, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Wikipedia® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia
Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization.