Trichomycterus rivulatus

Trichomycterus rivulatus is a species of pencil catfish that is native to high-altitude Andean streams and lakes (including Junin, Poopó and Titicaca) in southern Peru, western Bolivia and northern Chile.^[2] It is the largest species in the genus Trichomycterus and grows to a maximum length of 37.4 centimetres (14.7 in) TL.^[2] The species is regularly caught as a food fish. However, because of pollution, studies have revealed levels of metals in T. rivulatus of Lake Titicaca that exceed the internationally recommended safety thresholds for human consumption.^[3]

Trichomycterus rivulatus
Conservation status
Near Threatened  (IUCN 2.3)[1]
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Siluriformes
Family:	Trichomycteridae
Genus:	Trichomycterus
Species:	T. rivulatus
Binomial name
Trichomycterus rivulatus Valenciennes, 1846

References

1. World Conservation Monitoring Centre (1996). "Trichomycterus rivulatus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 1996: e.T22124A9361319. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.1996.RLTS.T22124A9361319.en. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
2. Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Trichomycterus rivulatus". Fishbase. February 2012 version.
3. Sostoa, A.; A. Maceda-Veiga; M. Monroy (2014). "Metal concentration in water, sediment and four fish species from Lake Titicaca reveals a large-scale environmental concern". Biological Science of the Total Environment. 487: 233–244. Bibcode:2014ScTEn.487..233M. doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2014.03.134. PMID 24784748.