Pseudoloricaria laeviuscula

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Pseudoloricaria laeviuscula
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Siluriformes
Family: Loricariidae
Subfamily: Loricariinae
Tribe: Loricariini
Genus: Pseudoloricaria
Isbrücker, 1971
Species: P. laeviuscula
Binomial name
Pseudoloricaria laeviuscula
(Isbrücker, 1971)
Synonyms

Loricaria laeviuscula
Valenciennes, 1840

Pseudoloricaria laeviuscula is the only species of the monotypic genus Pseudoloricaria, a genus of the family Loricariidae of catfish (order Siluriformes).[1] The phylogenetic position of Pseudoloricaria is uncertain.[1]

This species is distributed in the middle and lower Amazon basin, including the Negro and Branco Rivers.[1][2] P. laeviuscula is found over sandy bottoms, in clear waters, in the main flow of rivers, and in neighboring temporary ponds.[1]

P. laeviuscula reaches a length of about 30 centimetres (12 in) SL.[2] Although reproductive habits are unknown, this species is probably a lip brooder.[1] Sexual dimorphism includes hypertrophied development of the lower lip suggesting that P. laeviuscula is a lip brooder.[1] This species shows derived features such as a reduction in size and number of teeth, premaxillary teeth absent, a circular head shape, and eyes reduced in size without iris operculum.[1]

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Covain, Raphael; Fisch-Muller, Sonia (2007). "The genera of the Neotropical armored catfish subfamily Loricariinae (Siluriformes: Loricariidae): a practical key and synopsis". Zootaxa 1462: 1–40. 
  2. ^ a b "Pseudoloricaria laeviuscula". FishBase. Ed. Ranier Froese and Daniel Pauly. May 2007 version. N.p.: FishBase, 2007.