The native name of this species is “Guitarrita” which translates as “little guitar.” The Banjo Catfish earned this name because, when viewed from above, its shape resembles that of a guitar. The bodies of these catfish are relatively flat and dark in coloration. Banjo Catfish are native to the Amazon River Basin, particularly Bolivia, Peru and Brazil. In their natural habitat, these fish can typically be found in streams, ponds and lakes filled with plant debris and submerged branches.