spiny cat-fish
Agamyxis albomaculatus
Small freshwater catfish from the Orinoco basin, in Venezuela, with strong spines and plates on the body. It has commercial use in fishing and the aquarium.
Also called: bagre-espinhoso, espinosísimo, sierra pintada, dorita, rego-rego, spiny cat-fish
- maximum
- 15 cm
who is the spiny cat-fish
The spiny catfish is a freshwater doradid of the family Doradidae, reaching 15 cm. It lives on the bottom of tropical rivers in the Orinoco basin, in Venezuela. Like other doradids, it has bony plates along the sides and strong spines on the fins, which make it an armored catfish. It has commercial fishing and use in the aquarium trade. The names espinosísimo and sierra pintada refer to the spines and the body markings. It is not a target of sport fishing.
Essential profile. Identification, where it occurs and rules, with data from FishBase and the cited regulations. Season, time of day, technique and bait are added once we have a good source for the spiny cat-fish; in the meantime, see the similar species.
identification
Small armored catfish, with bony plates along the sides and strong spines on the fins, like other doradids. The scientific name (albomaculatus) and the Spanish name sierra pintada indicate pale spots on the body. The other Venezuelan doradid on the list, the bagre-mariana (Doraops zuloagai), is much larger, up to 50 cm, and lives in the Lake Maracaibo basin.
Loading the next 7 days…
Each card shows the day's index (0 to 100) and, below it, a strip with the index for each hour, from 0h to 23h. from poor to excellent.
Essential profile: the index uses a general fish model (weather, sun, moon and tide), without a season or time of day specific to this species.
where found
Orinoco basin, in Venezuela, in tropical fresh water.
Habitat: Bottom of tropical freshwater rivers of the Orinoco basin, in Venezuela.
rules for the spiny cat-fish
Summary of the regulations we found, with the source for each. Rules change; before keeping or transporting fish, check with the state environmental agency.
We found no species-specific rule beyond the region's general rules.
catch and release
catch and release Releasing the fish alive, quickly and with a wet hand. During a closed season it isn't always allowed: what the regulation says applies.
The fin spines and side plates can injure. Hold it with a cloth or glove and avoid touching the spines with your hand.
how much it weighs without taking it out of the water
Length-weight relationship W = a·Lb (a = 0.01122, b = 3.04; FishBase (relação peso-comprimento bayesiana, estimativa)). It's an average: a fat or lean fish can vary by 10% to 20%.
estimated weight
—
sources and references
Essential profile: size, length-weight, depth, countries and conservation come from FishBase and the cited regulations, and the texts were written from those sources. Season, time of day, sensitivities, technique and baits and lures are not included yet, because we did not find a good source for this species.
- scientific FishBase: Agamyxis albomaculatus (ficha da espécie)Size, length-weight, depth, habitat, distribution, biology, and IUCN status. Page checked on Oct 13, 2026.
- scientific FishBase: nomes populares de Agamyxis albomaculatusNames by country and language.
