Taxonomy
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Actinopterygii
- Order
- Perciformes
- Family
- Doradidae
- Genus
- Oxydoras
- Species
- niger
Habitat
Ripsaw catfish primarily inhabit large rivers and floodplains in the Amazon Basin, favoring slow-moving waters with sandy or muddy substrates. They are often found in deeper sections of rivers and can tolerate a range of water conditions, including slightly acidic environments. Geographic preferences include countries like Brazil, Peru, and Colombia.
Diet
This species feeds on detritus, chironomid and ephemeropteran larvae, and crustaceans
Behavior
Ripsaw catfish are primarily nocturnal, spending the day buried in river substrates and emerging at night to forage for food. They are generally solitary but may form loose groups in feeding areas, and they exhibit territorial behavior during spawning seasons. This species is known for producing low-frequency sounds using its swim bladder to communicate or ward off threats.
Conservation Status
Listed as Not Evaluated by IUCN.