Taxonomy
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Actinopterygii
- Order
- Aulopiformes
- Family
- Auchenipteridae
- Genus
- Ageneiosus
- Species
- inermis
Habitat
This fish inhabits large rivers, tributaries, and flooded forests in the Amazon and Orinoco basins of South America. It prefers slow-moving, freshwater environments with sandy or muddy bottoms, often hiding among submerged logs and vegetation.
Diet
The Manduba primarily feeds on small fish, insects, and crustaceans, using its barbels to detect prey in low-visibility waters. It is a nocturnal hunter, actively foraging at night in riverbeds and shallow areas.
Behavior
The Manduba is primarily nocturnal, spending days hidden under debris or in vegetation to avoid detection. It exhibits solitary behavior, acting as an ambush predator that lies in wait for prey, and shows little territorial aggression outside of breeding periods.
Conservation Status
Listed as Not Evaluated by IUCN.