Trichomycterus punctulatus
| Trichomycterus punctulatus | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Siluriformes |
| Family: | Trichomycteridae |
| Genus: | Trichomycterus |
| Species: | T. punctulatus
|
| Binomial name | |
| Trichomycterus punctulatus Valenciennes, 1846[2]
| |
Trichomycterus punctulatus is a species of freshwater ray-finned fish belonging to the family Trichomycteridae, the pencil and parasitic catfishes.[2] This catfish is found in western Peru.[3] This elongated catfish can reach a length of 19.5 cm (7.7 in).[4]
Range, habitat and behavior
This nocturnal freshwater fish is endemic to western Peru, ranging at least from Lambayeque and Cajamarca[5] to Tacna.[6] It mostly lives in rivers and streams, but can also be found in habitats such as small lakes and paddy fields.[5] It is an opportunistic predator that mainly feeds on insects,[7] but also will take small crustaceans and plant material (algae and remains of phanerogams).[4]
Importance to humans
It is fished and plays an important role in the local cuisine in northern Peru, where this species is known as life, pronounced "lee-fey", or life monsefuano (dishes: panquitas de life or sudado de life).[5][8] Although it can be difficult to ascertain the exact species depicted in the artwork of the ancient Moche culture,[9] it was likely T. punctulatus that was important in their mythology where perhaps recognized as a connection between light and darkness.[4][5] In excavations of Huaca de la Luna, more than one-quarter of all fish bones were this species, revealing that it already played an important role as a food to the Moche.[8]
References
- ^ Perez, A. (2024). "Trichomycterus punctulatus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2024 e.T176536837A176536847. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2024-1.RLTS.T176536837A176536847.en. Retrieved 25 November 2025.
- ^ a b Fricke, Ron; Eschmeyer, William N. & van der Laan, Richard (eds.). "Species in the genus Trichomycterus". Catalog of Fishes. California Academy of Sciences. Retrieved 24 November 2025.
- ^ Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Trichomycterus punctulatus". FishBase. April 2017 version.
- ^ a b c Gálvez Mora, C.A.; M. Andrea Runcio (2009). "El life (Trichomycterus sp.) y su importancia en la iconografía Mochica". Archaeobios. 3 (1): 55–87.
- ^ a b c d Fondazioneslowfood: Life monsefuano. Retrieved 28 April 2017.
- ^ Dyer, B.S. (2000). "Systematic review and biogeography of the freshwater fishes of Chile". Estud. Oceanol. 19: 77–98.
- ^ Vera Arabe; Oyague Passuni; Castañeda Córdova; Quinteros Carlos (2013). "Hábitos alimentarios del bagre "life" Trichomycterus punctulatus (Valenciennes, 1846) (Actinopterygii, Siluriformes) en el río Pisco, Perú". Ecología Aplicada. 12 (2): 121–131. doi:10.21704/rea.v12i1-2.445.
- ^ a b Bradley, Robert, The Life Catfish in Moche Art and Culture (PDF)
- ^ Bourget, S. (2016). Sacrifice, Violence, and Ideology Among the Moche: The Rise of Social Complexity in Ancient Peru. ISBN 978-1-4773-0873-8.