{{Short description|Species of fish}} {{Speciesbox | image = Schleromystax barbatus5015.jpg | image_caption = Photo: Birger A | status = LC | status_system = IUCN3.1 | status_ref = <ref>{{cite iucn |author=Instituto Chico Mendes de Conservação da Biodiversidade (ICMBio). |year=2022 |title=''Scleromystax barbatus'' |article-number=e.T187109A1823254 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2022-1.RLTS.T187109A1823254.pt}}</ref> | name = Banded corydoras | taxon = Scleromystax barbatus | authority = (Quoy & Gaimard, 1824) | synonyms_ref = <ref name=cof>{{Cof species |genus=Scleromystax |species=barbatus |access-date=18 February 2025}}</ref> | synonyms = {{Specieslist |Callichthys barbatus|Quoy & Gaimard, 1824 |Corydoras barbatus|(Quoy & Gaimard, 1824) |Corydoras eigenmanni|Ihering, 1907 |Corydoras kronei|Miranda Ribeiro, 1907 }} }}

The '''banded corydoras''' or '''bearded catfish''' ('''''Scleromystax barbatus''''') is a subtropical freshwater fish belonging to the subfamily Corydoradinae of the family Callichthyidae. It originates in coastal drainages in South America from Rio de Janeiro to Santa Catarina, Brazil.<ref name=fishbase>{{FishBase | genus = Scleromystax | species = barbatus | year = 2011 | month = December}}</ref>

==Taxonomy== It was originally described as ''Callichthys barbatus'' by Jean René Constant Quoy & Joseph Paul Gaimard in 1824, from which it was transferred to genus Corydoras as ''Corydoras barbatus'', a name which by which it is still being referred to in the aquarium industry. The species was further transferred to genus ''Scleromystax'' in 2003.<ref name="Britto2003">{{cite journal|url=http://acd.ufrj.br/ppgzoo/orientadores/dados/Artigos%20Brito/Phylogeny%20Corydoradinae%20(Britto).pdf |title=Phylogeny of the subfamily Corydoradinae Hoedeman, 1952 (Siluriformes: Callichthyidae), with a definition of its genera |first=Marcelo R. |last=Britto |journal=Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia |volume=153 |pages=119–154 |date=December 2003 |doi=10.1635/0097-3157(2003)153[0119:POTSCH]2.0.CO;2 |s2cid=85655845 |access-date=2009-06-25 |issn=0097-3157 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928020843/http://acd.ufrj.br/ppgzoo/orientadores/dados/Artigos%20Brito/Phylogeny%20Corydoradinae%20%28Britto%29.pdf |archive-date=2007-09-28 }}</ref>

==Description== The fish will grow in length up to 9.8&nbsp;centimetres (3.9&nbsp;in).<ref name=fishbase/> This species has pronounced sexual dimorphism. The dorsal and pectoral fins of males reach, or almost reach, the caudal peduncle, and well-developed odontodes are inserted in fleshy tissue on a large area on the sides of the snout in fully grown males.<ref name="Britto2005">{{cite journal|url=http://www.ufrgs.br/ni/vol3num4%5CNI_v3n4p481-488lowr.pdf|title=A new ''Scleromystax'' species (Siluriformes: Callichthyidae) from coastal rivers of Southern Brazil|first=Marcelo R.|last=Britto|author2=Reis, Roberto E. |author-link2=Roberto Esser dos Reis |journal=Neotropical Ichthyology|volume=3|issue=4|pages=481–488|year=2005|doi=10.1590/S1679-62252005000400005|doi-access=free}}</ref>

==Habitat and ecology== The banded corydoras lives in a subtropical climate in water with a 6.0&ndash;8.0 pH, a water hardness of 2&ndash;25 dGH, and a temperature of {{convert|68|°F|°C|abbr=on}} to {{convert|82|°F|°C|abbr=on}}.<ref name=fishbase/> It feeds on worms, benthic crustaceans, insects, and plant matter. It lays eggs in dense vegetation and adults do not guard the eggs. In captivity, as the sperm are released the female sinks to the bottom, resting on one of her pectoral fins while she starts fanning with the other pectoral fin. At this time, some eggs are released which fall into the pelvic fin basket and are apparently fertilized at that time.

==In the aquarium== The banded corydoras is of commercial importance in the aquarium trade industry. Though peaceful, they get larger than most ''Corydoras'' and are therefore less suitable for small aquaria.<ref name=axelrod>{{cite book|title=Exotic Tropical Fishes|last=Axelrod|first=Herbert R.|author-link=Herbert R. Axelrod|publisher=T.F.H. Publications|year=1996|isbn=0-87666-543-1}}</ref>

==See also== * List of freshwater aquarium fish species

== References == {{Reflist}}

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Category:Scleromystax Category:Catfish of Brazil Category:Taxa named by Jean René Constant Quoy Category:Taxa named by Joseph Paul Gaimard Category:Fish described in 1824

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