Neoplecostomus

Neoplecostomus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Siluriformes
Family: Loricariidae
Subfamily: Neoplecostominae
Genus: Neoplecostomus
Eigenmann & Eigenmann, 1888
Type species
Plecostomus microps
Steindachner, 1877
Species

Neoplecostomus is a genus of catfishes (order Siluriformes) of the family Loricariidae. It includes ten species, N. espiritosantensis, N. franciscoensis, N. granosus, N. microps, N. paranensis, N. ribeirensis, and N. variipictus.[1] In 2008 three additional species were described, N. corumba, N. selenae and N. yapo.[2]

The species of Neoplecostomus live in fast water.[3] N. espiritosantensis originates from the Jacu and São Lourenço Rivers on the eastern slope of Serra do Mar.[4] N. franciscoensis inhabits the headwaters of Das Velhas and Paraopeba River basins of the São Francisco River drainage. [5] N. granosus is from southeastern Brazil.[1] N. microps and N. variipictus are distributed in the Paraíba do Sul River basin.[6][7] N. paranensis is from the upper Paraná River basin.[8] N. ribeirensis lives in the Ribeira de Iguape River basin.[9]

Neoplecostomus can be distinguished from all other loricariids by a modified shield of small plates on the abdomen with posteriorly directed odontodes; the shield appears to act as a holdfast. The color pattern is generally mottled brown with the abdomen white. The head is long, rounded, and shovel-shaped. The fin spines are weak.[3] Neoplecostomus species range from about 7.5–10.3 centimetres (3.0–4.1 in SL.[4][5][6][7][8][9][10]

References

  1. ^ a b Ferraris, Carl J., Jr. (2007). "Checklist of catfishes, recent and fossil (Osteichthyes: Siluriformes), and catalogue of siluriform primary types" (PDF). Zootaxa 1418: 1–628. http://silurus.acnatsci.org/ACSI/library/biblios/2007_Ferraris_Catfish_Checklist.pdf. 
  2. ^ Zawadzki, Pavanelli & Langeani (2008). "Neoplecostomus (Teleostei: Loricariidae) from the upper Rio Paraná basin, Brazil, with description of three new species" (PDF). Zootaxa 1757: 31–48. http://mapress.com/zootaxa/2008/f/zt01757p048.pdf. 
  3. ^ a b Armbruster, Jonathan W.. "Neoplecostomus Eigenmann and Eigenmann, 1888". http://www.auburn.edu/academic/science_math/res_area/loricariid/fish_key/neopleco/neopleco.html. Retrieved 2007-07-13. 
  4. ^ a b Froese, Rainer, and Daniel Pauly, eds. (2007). "Neoplecostomus espiritosantensis" in FishBase. July 2007 version.
  5. ^ a b Froese, Rainer, and Daniel Pauly, eds. (2007). "Neoplecostomus franciscoensis" in FishBase. July 2007 version.
  6. ^ a b Froese, Rainer, and Daniel Pauly, eds. (2007). "Neoplecostomus microps" in FishBase. July 2007 version.
  7. ^ a b Froese, Rainer, and Daniel Pauly, eds. (2007). "Neoplecostomus variipictus" in FishBase. July 2007 version.
  8. ^ a b Froese, Rainer, and Daniel Pauly, eds. (2007). "Neoplecostomus paranensis" in FishBase. July 2007 version.
  9. ^ a b Froese, Rainer, and Daniel Pauly, eds. (2007). "Neoplecostomus ribeirensis" in FishBase. July 2007 version.
  10. ^ Froese, Rainer, and Daniel Pauly, eds. (2007). "Neoplecostomus granosus" in FishBase. July 2007 version.