| Pseudacanthicus | |
|---|---|
| Pseudacanthicus spinosus | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Siluriformes |
| Family: | Loricariidae |
| Subfamily: | Hypostominae |
| Tribe: | Ancistrini |
| Genus: | Pseudacanthicus Bleeker, 1862 |
| Type species | |
| Hypostomus serratus Valenciennes, 1840 |
|
| Binomial name | |
| Synonyms | |
|
Stoneiella Fowler, 1914 |
|
Pseudacanthicus is a genus of catfishes (order Siluriformes) of the family Loricariidae. It includes five formally described species, P. fordii, P. histrix, P. leopardus, P. serratus, and P. spinosus. There are also several undescribed species from Peru to Brazil. [1]
Contents |
Pseudacanthicus is distributed in the Orinoco, the Guyanas, the Rio Negro, and the lower Amazonian tributaries.[2] P. fordii originates from the coastal drainages of Suriname. P. histrix inhabits the Negro and lower Amazon River basins in Brazil. P. leopardus is known from the Rupununi River basin in Guyana. P. serratus lives in coastal drainages of the Guianas. P. spinosus is from the Amazon River basin in Brazil.[1]
Species of Pseudacanthicus are large, spiny loricariids with a diverse range of colour patterns. Colour is from light to dark gray, often with black spots. The fins and body may have red sections or a red wash.[2] Colouration varies between rivers and can also change throughout the lifetime of a single individual.[3] The abdomen is covered in small plates in adults. The caudal fin is forked, but without filaments. The jaws are short, forming an acute angle at their union; the teeth are few and stout. The adipose fin is present.[2]
P. leopardus grows to a modest size of about 40 centimetres (14 in) TL.[4] P. fordii, P. spinosus, and P. serratus grow larger to about 23 cm (9 in) TL, 26 cm (10 in) SL, and 32 cm (13 in) TL, respectively.[5][6][7] P. histrix is reported to grow as large as 90 cm (35 in) TL.[8]
P. histrix has incredibly elongated odontodes that form a brush on the anterior margin of the pectoral fin spine in breeding males; however, sexual dimorphism has not been reported for the other species.[2]
P. serratus is known to scientists from only a few specimens. According to Boni fishermen in Guiana, this fish lives in the deep and rocky zones of the main riverbed. Despite its size, it is not consumed as food by native populations since it has a reputation for being dirty and sticky.[7]
Pseudacanthicus species may be kept in the aquarium. P. leopardus is a large attractive fish known in the aquarium hobby as the leopard cactus pleco. It is a large fish that essentially feeds on dead meat. It is territorial and care should be taken when maintaining it with other large, nocturnal fish.[3]