Zebra pleco

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Zebra pleco

Juvenile. Photo: Birger A

Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Siluriformes
Family:	Loricariidae
Genus:	Hypancistrus
Species:	H. zebra

Binomial name

Hypancistrus zebra
Isbrücker & Nijssen, 1991

The zebra pleco, Hypancistrus zebra, gets its name from its black and white stripes, resembling the colouration of a zebra. It is a species of catfish commonly found in the Xingu River, a tributary of the Amazon River, and was first described in the early 1990s.^[1] This fish was exported from Brazil in great numbers. Despite this, the zebra pleco is not found on the IUCN red list.^[1] However, the Brazilian government responded by putting a ban on the exportation of the zebra pleco. Since this ban has been enforced, there has been a trend towards the captive breeding of this exotic and expensive catfish due to its popularity.

Mature males have a larger head and longer interopercular spines than females. After spawning, the males will guard the eggs. The fry swim after seven days and absorb the yolk sac in two weeks.^[2]

[edit] In the aquarium

Hypancistrus zebra is called L-46 in terms of the L-numbering convention often applied to Loricariidae. Though the Zebra Pleco is sometimes described as a suckermouth catfish, this is generally used to describe fishes which subsist on algae. The Zebra pleco is definitely not one such fish and would do better on a more carnivorous diet.^[2] It will prefer plenty of hiding places, subdued lighting, and quiet company.^[2]

[edit] See also

List of freshwater aquarium fish species

[edit] References

^ ^a ^b "Hypancistrus zebra". FishBase. Ed. Ranier Froese and Daniel Pauly. November 2005 version. N.p.: FishBase, 2005.
^ ^a ^b ^c Sanford, Gina (1999). Aquarium Owner's Guide. New York: DK Publishing, 40. ISBN 0-7894-4614-6.