This genus name Terranatos was given by Prof. Donald Taphorn and Dr. Jaimy Thomerson in 1978 and since then seen as distinct genus. It was designated to the monotypic species T. dolichoptherus, originally described in the genus Austrofundulus. Terranatos dolichopterus lives in the Llanos from Venezuela but was found recently in Colombia as well.

The terra typica is Cano Benito, a very small village in the state Cojodes, north Venezuela and Terranatos is also found also in other places in the upper Orinoco drainage, often together with Gnatholebias.

Recently I discovered this species in Central Colombia, far from its original location all the way up the Guaviare River near the town San Jose de Guaviare. It was found together with Renova oscari, so far never found in Colombia as well.

I was able to visit the terra tipica in 2004 but was not able to collect any species from that location due to the extreme rainfall and high water levels. That was in mid October as I went to Venezuela to support the Arubian footbalteam that was there for a tournament. The whole Llanos was inundated and pools were not visible or not accessible.

A small trench that was crossing under the road had strong current and it was not likely at all we could find any killifishes there either.

Behavior:

This only species in this genus prefers to live in small bodies of stagnant water that can be of temporary nature like swamps, flooded land and isolated pools near rivers. They can be found in open landscape areas, often cultivated- or open grassland, mostly on a muddy- or clay bottom.

General behavior is like that from most Simpsonichthys species as they like to dwell in small groups and are not very active in there environment. Not fast swimming but more peaceful standing in shaded places. They eat, as most other annuals do, mosquito larvae and small flying insects or crustacean. See for more info the species page.

Advice to collectors:

During collecting it is most important to handle the catch with care and never take the fish out of the water when netting and pack them one by one adding some small leaves to the bag. Terranatos is extremely vulnerable to stress and many die before you know if not taken care of .... and even then ... with best care they can die suddenly without any sign up-front.