Tailspot corydoras

About

A small but characterful armored catfish from South America, Corydoras caudimaculatus is native to the Guaporé River basin in Brazil, where it inhabits the kind of warm, soft-bottomed environments typical of many cory species. With no widely accepted common name distinct from its scientific name, it remains something of a specialist's fish. Appreciated most by hobbyists who've gone deep into the Corydoras rabbit hole. Identification is fairly straightforward once you know what to look for: the defining feature is a crisp, well-defined dark blotch on the caudal peduncle, which separates it from the similar C. similis (whose comparable marking is bluish and smudged) and C. guapore (which has a rounded snout and tends to hover above the substrate rather than patrol the bottom). Like all callichthyids, this species carries rows of bony plates instead of scales, giving it that classic armored look. Those stiffened pectoral spines are worth respecting. They can pierce skin and may carry mildly toxic secretions, so handle with care. One of the more fascinating traits is its ability to breathe air directly at the surface using a modified, highly vascularized section of intestine, so don't be alarmed when it dashes up for a gulp. A sociable, peaceful species, it does best in groups and rewards patient keepers. These little catfish can live well over a decade with proper care.