| Acanthopoma annectens | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Siluriformes |
| Family: | Trichomycteridae |
| Subfamily: | Stegophilinae |
| Genus: | Acanthopoma Lütken, 1892 |
| Species: | A. annectens |
| Binomial name | |
| Acanthopoma annectens Lütken, 1892 |
|
Acanthopoma annectens is a species of catfish (order Siluriformes) of the family Trichomycteridae, and the only species of the genus Acanthopoma.[1] This fish grows to about 12 centimetres (4.7 in) SL and originates from the upper and middle Amazon River.[2] This species is parasitic, attacking like a leech and leaving wounds all over the fish which it attacks; it spreads a bundle of opercular and inter-opercular spines into the wound and remains there and is difficult to remove. It may invade parts of wading or swimming animals but apparently exist in these passages only for a short while, as they quickly die from a lack of oxygen.[2]