Royal Twig Catfish Sturisomatichthys aureus/ Sturisoma aureum

The Royal Twig Catfish, also called the Giant Whiptail Pleco, is native to clear, flowing streams of the lower lower Magdalena basin in Colombia. It grows to 20cm long.

It looks similar to S. nigrirostrum, also called Twig Catfish and Whiptail Pleco and growing to 22cm long; however nigrirostrum has a dark brown underside to its snout (and is native to Río Ucayali, Peru).

They often "walk" on their pectoral, pelvic and anal fins rather than swimming. The male tends the fertilised eggs (cleans, fans and guards them) until they hatch.

Another catfish, Pseudohemiodon laticeps, of the Paraguay and Parana rivers, is also known as the Giant Whiptail Pleco. Another catfish, Sturisoma panamense, of the Orinoco, is also called the Royal Twig Catfish.

These above are also called Giant Whiptail, Sturisoma aureum.