Hoplisoma

The genus Hoplisoma was established in 1838 by Swainson. Over time, the original species were merged with the genus Corydoras. Within the genus Corydoras, distinctions were made between different groups for a long time. In a new article from 2024, the genus Hoplisoma has been reinstated. The type species for this genus is Hoplisoma punctatum (synonym: Corydoras punctatus).

Difference from other species in the Corydoradinae subfamily:

Here is a simplified and easier to read list of characteristics that distinguish the genus *Hoplisoma* from other genera in the Corydoradinae subfamily:

1. Mesethmoid size:
   – Hoplisoma: small to medium.
   – Gastrodermus: noticeably short.
   – Corydoras: Large.
   – Brochis: Large to extremely large.
2. Serrations on dorsal and pectoral fin spines:
   – Hoplisoma: serrations, usually directed towards the tip of the spine or perpendicular.
   – Brochis (except B. difluviatilis): serrations, usually directed towards the origin of the spine.
   – Corydoras and Gastrodermus (except G. hastatus and G. pygmaeus): serrations on the dorsal spine, usually directed towards the tip, and on the thoracic vertebra, usually directed towards the origin.
   – Scleromystax: The dorsal spine is usually without serrations, while the serrations on the thoracic vertebra are usually directed towards the origin.
3. Posterior laminar expansion of infraorbital 2:
   – Hoplisoma: varies from greatly reduced to relatively well developed, usually not in contact with pterotic-extrascapular.
   – Brochis, Corydoras, Gastrodermus and Osteogaster: well-developed to remarkably well-developed expansion, in contact with pterotic extrascapular.
   – A. lakoi and A. poecilus: Infraorbital 2 makes variable contact with pterotic-extrascapular.

These features help distinguish Hoplisoma from other genera within the Corydoradinae subfamily.

Mesethmoid size

The term “mesethmoid size” refers to the size of a specific bone in the skull of fish, especially in the Corydoradinae subfamily. The mesethmoid is a bone located at the front of the skull, near the nasal region.

In simple terms, it refers to how large or small this specific bone is in different species of fish. For example, in the genus Hoplisoma, this bone can be short to medium in size, while in other genera such as Corydoras and Brochis, it can be quite large. This results in a relatively short snout in Hoplisoma compared to the snout of Corydoras and Brochis, for example.

Hoplisoma species

The largest species within this genus is Hoplisoma punctatum, which can reach a length of about 10 cm. The smallest species is Hoplisoma pygmaeus, which only grows to about 2 cm long.

Below you will find the list of Hoplisoma species that we have not yet included in the database. Below that, with a photo, the species that have already been added:

Hoplisoma albolineatum
Hoplisoma amphibelum
Hoplisoma apiaka
Hoplisoma araguaiaensis
Hoplisoma armatum
Hoplisoma atropersonatum
Hoplisoma axelrodi
Hoplisoma baderi
Hoplisoma benattii
Hoplisoma bicolor
Hoplisoma boehlkei
Hoplisoma boesemani
Hoplisoma bondi
Hoplisoma breei
Hoplisoma brevirostris
Hoplisoma burgessi
Hoplisoma carlae
Hoplisoma caudimaculatum
Hoplisoma cochui
Hoplisoma colossus
Hoplisoma concolor
Hoplisoma copei
Hoplisoma coppenamensis
Hoplisoma cruziensis
Hoplisoma davidsandsi
Hoplisoma diphyes
Hoplisoma duplicareum
Hoplisoma ehrhardti
Hoplisoma esperanzae
Hoplisoma evelynae
Hoplisoma eversi
Hoplisoma flaveolum
Hoplisoma froehlichi
Hoplisoma gladysae
Hoplisoma gossei
Hoplisoma granti
Hoplisoma griseum
Hoplisoma gryphus
Hoplisoma guianensis
Hoplisoma habrosum
Hoplisoma julii
Hoplisoma kanei
Hoplisoma lacrimostigmata
Hoplisoma leucomelas
Hoplisoma longipinnis
Hoplisoma loretoensis
Hoplisoma loxozonum
Hoplisoma lymnades
Hoplisoma melanistium
Hoplisoma melini
Hoplisoma metae
Hoplisoma micracanthus
Hoplisoma microcephalum
Hoplisoma multimaculatum
Hoplisoma nattereri
Hoplisoma oiapoquensis
Hoplisoma ortegai
Hoplisoma osteocarum
Hoplisoma paleatum
Hoplisoma panda
Hoplisoma paragua
Hoplisoma parallelum
Hoplisoma pavanelliae
Hoplisoma petracinii
Hoplisoma polystictum
Hoplisoma potaroensis
Hoplisoma punctatum
Hoplisoma reynoldsi
Hoplisoma sanchesi
Hoplisoma schwartzi
Hoplisoma similis
Hoplisoma sipalwini
Hoplisoma steindachneri
Hoplisoma sterbai
Hoplisoma surinamensis
Hoplisoma trilineatum
Hoplisoma tukano
Hoplisoma urucu
Hoplisoma weitzmani
Hoplisoma xinguensis