Biological information of Taunayia bifasciata (Siluriformes: Heptapteridae): a threatened and unknown catfish

Abstract

Taunayia bifasciata (Eigenmann & Norris, 1900) is a small catfish that inhabits headwater streams of the Tietê and Paraíba do Sul river basins, southeastern Brazil, being restricted to the Atlantic rain forest. The species is found on lists of threatened species of Brazil and the state of São Paulo. Despite that, there is no literature information about the biology of the species. In the present study we endeavored to collect data on the biology of T. bifasciata. A total of 37 specimens were captured in two streams, Piracuama and Oliveiras. of those, 22 were females, 14 were males and 1 specimen was immature. Adults with mature gonads were captured in all samples excepting the last, suggesting that T. bifasciata has a long reproductive season. The average fecundity was 319 oocytes/female (range 173-504), with diameters ranging from 0.183 to 2.135 mm. Seven different food items were found in the stomach contents of our subjects. Terrestrial insects and immature Plecoptera were the most frequent and most important food items in the diet of T. bifasciata