It is widely distributed in South America on the eastern side of the Andes, from Colombia and Trinidad to the Río de la Plata basin;[2] however, as presently defined it is a species complex and a taxonomic review is necessary.

[3] It was originally described as Hoplosoma aeneum (based on a specimen from Trinidad) by Theodore Gill in 1858 and has historically also been referred to as Callichthys aeneus.

[4] Females have a slightly higher body frame than males in accordance with their larger abdominal region.

In common with most Corydoras the dorsal, pectoral and adipose fins have an additional sharp barb and have a mild poison which causes fish which try to attack them to get stung.

A brownish-orange patch is usually present on the head, just before the dorsal fin, and is its most distinctive feature when viewed from above in the stream.

[2] Like most members of the genus Corydoras, these catfish have a unique method of coping with the low oxygen content that prevails in such environments.

In addition to utilizing their gills like any other fish, they rapidly come to the surface of the water and draw air in through their mouth.

The female will attach her mouth to the male's genital opening, creating the well-known "T-position" many Corydoras exhibit during courtship.

The sperm rapidly moves through her intestines and is discharged together with her eggs into a pouch formed by her pelvic fins.

When it comes to sperm, then the female glues the eggs, only a few in number, to the chosen substrate and then (sometimes) quickly touches them with her mouth.

The eggs gradually grow darker in color, and just prior to hatching (ranging from three days at 28 °C to a week at 20 °C) they turn dark brown.