Trachelyopterus

Trachelyopterus is a genus of driftwood catfishes. They have been found in South American environments, including Venezuela, Colombia, Peru, Argentina, and several places in Brazil. They have a body pattern that follows bilateral symmetry and reproduce sexually. In terms of sensory systems, Trachelypterus' have otoliths for hearing and lens eyes for seeing; they also have capabilities of electroreception. The size and appearance of different species within the Trachelyopterus genus varies, with sizes ranging from 5.5 inches in T. albicrux to 7.9 inches in T. insignis to 8.4 inches in T. lucenai. These small catfishes are marketed towards aquariums.

== Feeding and diet == The Trachelyopterus lucenai catfishes feed primarily on autochthonous materials in the ecosystem but do consume allochthonous particulate as well. A study by Becker found that the stomach contents of these catfishes varied widely among trophic levels; organisms ranging from fish to crabs to insects. Given this diversity found in the stomach content of T. lucenai, it is reasonable to conclude that these animals navigate throughout the whole water column in search of food, rather than limiting their niche to only surface waters or only benthic habitats. Furthermore, this variability in eating behavior lends to the characterization of the driftwood catfishes as omnivorous organisms, since they feed at more than one trophic level. Additionally, this genus may be considered to follow opportunistic feeding behaviors. Opportunistic feeding behaviors are characterized by a varied food selection which ultimately contributes to increased adaptability as animals rely on more than one source of energy. There were no significant differences in feeding habits observed between males and females.