They have been found in South American environments, including Venezuela, Colombia, Peru, Argentina, and several places in Brazil.

[3] The Trachelyopterus lucenai catfishes feed primarily on autochthonous materials in the ecosystem but do consume allochthonous particulate as well.

[5] 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.

[5] 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.

[5] 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.

[7] In another study, Fontoura, et al. also examined reproductive details and found that the gonadosomatic index (GSI) values were highest in November through February.

[8] These data correspond to one another in that Fontoura, et al.’s findings fit within the expected reproductive period given by Maia, et al.

[9] Further support that Trachelyopterus catfishes reproduce via insemination was gathered from work done by Burns, et al., who studied the ultrastructure of sperm in these animals.

[10] They found that the sperm cells of T. lucenai have a single flagellum and are characterized by both elongated nuclear and middle section.

[12] The parasite apparently took over in such a way as to replace the sarcoplasmic reticulum within the musculature tissue, disrupting the integrtiey of the muscle’s structure.