About Gyrinocheilus aymonieri (Tirant, 1883)
Gyrinocheilus aymonieri (Tirant, 1883) is the only species in the Gyrinocheilus genus distinguished by two key morphological traits: 9 branched dorsal rays, and 36 to 40 lateral line scales. Recorded specimens have reached at least 28 centimeters (11 inches) in standard length (SL). Its mouth is positioned on the underside of the head, modified into a specialized sucker that lets the fish attach to smooth surfaces, and it has no barbels. Wild-type individuals have base body color ranging from pale grey to olive, with darker markings running along the lateral line. These markings vary widely in shape, from a solid stripe with alternating upward and downward extensions to uneven scattered dots. The belly is typically paler than the fish’s base body color. Dark markings may also appear along the back and on the caudal fin, but no dark markings are present on the pelvic and anal fins.
