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Acanthopoma

Acanthopoma annectens
Not evaluated (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Siluriformes
Family: Trichomycteridae
Subfamily: Stegophilinae
Genus: Acanthopoma
Lütken, 1892
Species: A. annectens
Binomial name
Acanthopoma annectens
Lütken, 1892

Acanthopoma annectens is a species of catfish (order Siluriformes) of the family Trichomycteridae, and the only species of the genus Acanthopoma. This fish grows to about 12 centimetres (4.7 in) SL and originates from the upper and middle Amazon River. This species is parasitic, attacking like a leech and leaving wounds all over the fish which it attacks; it spreads a bundle of opercular and inter-opercular spines into the wound and remains there and is difficult to remove. It may invade parts of wading or swimming animals but apparently exist in these passages only for a short while, as they quickly die from a lack of oxygen.


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Wikipedia

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