White stripe cory

About

A rarely seen catfish from Bolivia, Corydoras albolineatus belongs to one of the largest groups of freshwater catfish in South America, a genus currently holding over 150 valid species. It is identified by a broad white horizontal band running along the body, paired with numerous small brown spots scattered across the top of the head and snout. All the fins are plain and unmarked, which helps separate it from lookalike species. It is occasionally confused with C. xinguensis, though that species has a noticeably deeper body. Like all members of the armored catfish family Callichthyidae, this fish carries rows of bony plates rather than true scales, giving it a characteristic rigid appearance. One of the more interesting biological quirks of the genus is facultative air breathing. These fish have a specially adapted, highly vascularized section of intestine that can extract oxygen directly from the air, and you will sometimes catch them darting to the surface for a quick gulp. Worth noting for anyone handling them: the stiffened pectoral spines can deliver a genuinely painful puncture, and secretions at the spine base may carry mild venom. A peaceful, gregarious little fish, it should be kept in a group of at least four to six individuals, and its easy-going nature makes it a solid choice for community tanks kept by newer fishkeepers.