Teleostei (teleosts) >
Siluriformes (Catfishes) >
Doradidae (Thorny catfishes) > Doradinae
Etymology: Oxydoras: Greek, oxys = sharp + Greek, dora = skin (Ref. 45335).
More on author: Valenciennes.
Taxonomic Remarks
Occurrence in Orinoco basin tentative, dependent upon identification of questionable synonym Oxydoras holdeni Fernández-Yépez; specimens of Oxydoras niger reported from Venezuela by Fernández-Yépez 1968:57 pertain to Oxydoras sifontesi Fernández-Yépez. Species-level distinctiveness of São Francisco and Amazonas Oxydoras not investigated.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; demersal; pH range: 6.0 - 7.8; dH range: ? - 25; potamodromous (Ref. 126106). Tropical; 21°C - 24°C (Ref. 2060)
South America: Amazon, São Francisco and Essequibo River basins. Possibly in the Orinoco River basin.
Length at first maturity / Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm 62.5  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 100.0 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 37054); common length : 59.0 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 9081); max. published weight: 11.0 kg (Ref. 40637); max. published weight: 11.0 kg
Short description
Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics
Adults occur over mud in streams and lakes. They form schools (Ref. 9084) and feed on detritus, chironomid and ephemeropteran larvae, and crustaceans (Ref. 9096). Known from temperatures ranging from 24-29.8 °C, pH range of 5-9, and an alkalinity range of 42-142.
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Sabaj, M.H. and C.J. Ferraris Jr., 2003. Doradidae (Thorny catfishes). p. 456-469. In R.E. Reis, S.O. Kullander and C.J. Ferraris, Jr. (eds.) Checklist of the Freshwater Fishes of South and Central America. Porto Alegre: EDIPUCRS, Brasil. (Ref. 37054)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2025-2 (Global))
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: minor commercial; aquarium: commercial
Tools
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Internet sources
Estimates based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.6250 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.01622 (0.01351 - 0.01946), b=2.99 (2.94 - 3.04), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this species (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 2.8 ±0.29 se; based on food items.
Resilience (Ref.
120179): Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): High to very high vulnerability (73 of 100).
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