Climbing Catfish Discovered in Venezuela
A fish that lives in the interior of the tropical forests of Venezuela, Latin America, is not just new to the world of science. The broomfish that is named scientifically Lithogenes wahari is very unique compared to the fish in general because it has the ability to climb the cliff.
The fish can crawl on slopes or rocks that are perpendicular even using a distinctive fins on its body. the movement becomes more stable because the outside of the head and tail is coated with hard skin.The species does inherit the properties of two groups of broomsticks (catfish), the genus Loricariidae (hard-bodied catfish) and Astroblepidae (climber cat).
Like the two genera of broomsticks, this new species from Venezuela also has a sucking mouth that is useful as it climbs. Its existence has been known since 20 years ago, but only recently researched more recently.
"The fish are so weird in terms of morphology that they do not fit into the taxonomic categories we already know," says Scott Schaefer of the American National History Museum. He and his team confirmed it as a new species after collecting 84 specimens found while clinging to rocks in Rio Cuao which is the Rio Orinoco creek.