Why the Corydoras Leopardus Could Teach Us All a Thing or Two About Survival

Forget about mainstream icons of resilience; the Corydoras leopardus is the real hero. These small, armored catfish hail from the rivers of South America, particularly in Brazil and Peru. Throughout the ebb and flow of modern-day trivialities, these magnificent creatures have survived by adapting to their natural surroundings. In a world that seems to grow more complicated by the second, these catfish thrive by sticking to what they do best—staying true to their nature, not bending to the fleeting trends of popular opinion. Hospitals and academia may glorify some oversampled frogs with transparency, but Corydoras leopardus have the hard shells of truth, which is perhaps why they're not everyone's favorite.