Aspredinidae

Acanthobunocephalus scruggsi

Acanthobunocephalus scruggsi

A small catfish threatened by gold mining in the Purus

• Tropical
• Southern Hemisphere
• Regional distribution
• Freshwater fish
• South America
• Small
• Tropical fish

Acanthobunocephalus scruggsi is a species of banjo catfish found in the tributaries of the lower Purus River. Due to gold mining in the region, the species could become more critically endangered and possibly even be driven into extinction. They have fewer fin rays than other members of the family Asprinidae, having four rays on their pectoral fins, two on their dorsal fins, five on their pelvic fins, four or five on their anal fins, and nine on their caudal fins; other Asprinids (banjo catfish) have at least five (pectoral), at least three (dorsal), six (pelvic), six or more (anal), and ten or more (caudal, with a few other exceptions.