| 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 |
|
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]