Biology:Trichomycterus punctulatus
| Trichomycterus punctulatus | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Siluriformes |
| Family: | Trichomycteridae |
| Genus: | Trichomycterus |
| Species: | T. punctulatus
|
| Binomial name | |
| Trichomycterus punctulatus Valenciennes, 1846[2]
| |
Trichomycterus punctulatus is a species of freshwater ray-finned fish belonging to the family Trichomycteridae, the pencil and parasitic catfishes.[2] This catfish is found in western Peru.[3] This elongated catfish can reach a length of 19.5 cm (7.7 in).[4]
Range, habitat and behavior
This nocturnal freshwater fish is endemic to western Peru, ranging at least from Lambayeque and Cajamarca[5] to Tacna.[6] It mostly lives in rivers and streams, but can also be found in habitats such as small lakes and paddy fields.[5] It is an opportunistic predator that mainly feeds on insects,[7] but also will take small crustaceans and plant material (algae and remains of phanerogams).[4]
Importance to humans
It is fished and plays an important role in the local cuisine in northern Peru, where this species is known as life, pronounced "lee-fey", or life monsefuano (dishes: panquitas de life or sudado de life).[5][8] Although it can be difficult to ascertain the exact species depicted in the artwork of the ancient Moche culture,[9] it was likely T. punctulatus that was important in their mythology where perhaps recognized as a connection between light and darkness.[4][5] In excavations of Huaca de la Luna, more than one-quarter of all fish bones were this species, revealing that it already played an important role as a food to the Moche.[8]
References
- ↑ Perez, A. (2024). "Trichomycterus punctulatus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2024. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2024-1.RLTS.T176536837A176536847.en. https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/176536837/176536847. Retrieved 25 November 2025.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Eschmeyer, William N.; Fricke, Ron; van der Laan, Richard, eds. "Species in the genus Trichomycterus". California Academy of Sciences. http://researcharchive.calacademy.org/research/ichthyology/catalog/fishcatget.asp?tbl=species&genus=Trichomycterus.
- ↑ Froese, Rainer and Pauly, Daniel, eds. (2017). "Trichomycterus punctulatus" in FishBase. April 2017 version.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Gálvez Mora, C.A.; M. Andrea Runcio (2009). "El life (Trichomycterus sp.) y su importancia en la iconografía Mochica". Archaeobios 3 (1): 55–87.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Fondazioneslowfood: Life monsefuano. Retrieved 28 April 2017.
- ↑ Dyer, B.S. (2000). "Systematic review and biogeography of the freshwater fishes of Chile". Estud. Oceanol. 19: 77–98.
- ↑ Vera Arabe; Oyague Passuni; Castañeda Córdova; Quinteros Carlos (2013). "Hábitos alimentarios del bagre "life" Trichomycterus punctulatus (Valenciennes, 1846) (Actinopterygii, Siluriformes) en el río Pisco, Perú". Ecología Aplicada 12 (2): 121–131. doi:10.21704/rea.v12i1-2.445.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Bradley, Robert, The Life Catfish in Moche Art and Culture, https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Robert_Bradley8/post/Can_anyone_identify_the_Species_Genus_or_Family_of_this_catfish/attachment/59d63d7979197b807799a448/AS:419819724787714%401477104230251/download/Bradley_Andean_Foodways_lifes_FINAL.pdf
- ↑ Bourget, S. (2016). Sacrifice, Violence, and Ideology Among the Moche: The Rise of Social Complexity in Ancient Peru. ISBN 978-1-4773-0873-8.
Wikidata ☰ Q5510050 entry
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