| Pseudancistrus | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Pseudancistrus barbatus | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Siluriformes |
| Family: | Loricariidae |
| Tribe: | Ancistrini |
| Genus: | Pseudancistrus Bleeker, 1862 |
| Type species | |
| Hypostomus barbatus Valenciennes, 1840 | |
| Synonyms | |
LithoxancistrusIsbrücker, Nijssen & Cala, 1988 | |
Pseudancistrus is a genus of suckermouth armored catfishes native to South America.
Pseudancistrus is a genus in the tribe Ancistrini of the subfamily Hypostominae. It was described by Pieter Bleeker in 1862, and redescribed by Jonathan Armbruster in 2004. [1] Currently, there are 19 recognized species distributed in northern South America, with the inclusion of the genera Lithoxancistrus, the species formerly known as Hemiancistrus megacephalus, as well as the recently described Pseudancistrus corantijniensis. [1] There is no single morphological feature which distinguishes the group from related genera. Despite this, Pseudancistrus is generally recognized as a monophyletic group.
Within the genus there is what is called the P. barbatus group. This group comprises Guyanese derived Pseudancistrus bearing hypertrophied odontodes along the snout and nonevertible cheek plates. It includes the five species P. barbatus, P. corantijniensis, P. depressus, P. nigrescens, and P. zawadzkii. [2] [3]
There are currently 19 recognized species in this genus: [4]
Pseudancistrus species are found around the Guiana Shield in the Guyanas, Venezuela, and Brazil. They are also found in northeastern Brazil in the Rio Jaguaribe and Rio Grande do Norte. They are associated with swift flowing water over gravel, cobble, and boulders. [1]
There is a considerable variation in size within this genus, up to over 20 cm in standard length, in the case of species such as P. pectegenitor. Most species are not able to evert their cheek plates. In some species, odontodes on the snout may sometimes be extremely hypertrophied. [1] Most species are dark gray, with lighter colouration on the abdomen. In some species, there are light-colored spots or blotches on the sides. Usually, the fins are similarly colored, but in some species there are bands on the caudal fin or an orange or red edging to the dorsal fin and caudal fin. [1]
Ancistrus is a genus of nocturnal freshwater fish in the family Loricariidae of order Siluriformes, native to freshwater habitats in South America and Panama. Fish of this genus are common in the aquarium trade where they are known as bushynose or bristlenose catfish. In the aquarium hobby they are often referred to as bushynose or bristlenose plecos instead, but this may lead to confusion as "pleco" usually is used for Hypostomus plecostomus and its allies and is often used as a catchall term for any loricariids remotely resembling that species.
Loricariidae is the largest family of catfish, with over 90 genera and just over 680 species. Loricariids originate from freshwater habitats of Costa Rica, Panama, and tropical and subtropical South America. These fish are noted for the bony plates covering their bodies and their suckermouths. Several genera are sold as "plecos", notably the suckermouth catfish, Hypostomus plecostomus, and are popular as aquarium fish.
Hypostomus is a genus of catfish in the family Loricariidae. They are native to tropical and subtropical South America. H. plecostomus is the popular freshwater aquarium fish formerly known as Plecostomus plecostomus. The taxonomic structure of the Loricariidae is still being expanded by scientists. Hypostomus is a highly species-rich and widely distributed catfish genus.
Acanthicus is a genus of large, South American suckermouth armored catfishes native to the Amazon and Orinoco basins, and possibly in Guyana. The name Acanthicus is derived from the Greek, akanthikos meaning thorny, spiny. Fish of this genus are known as lyre-tail plecos. These species are found in large rivers, primarily in areas with a rocky bottom and a moderate or strong current.
Baryancistrus is a genus of freshwater Loricariid catfish. They inhabit flowing sections of rivers, especially clearwater, in the basins of the Amazon and Orinoco in Brazil and Venezuela. The largest species reach up to 34 cm (13 in) in total length.
Pseudancistrus sidereus is a species of armored catfish known only from the upper Orinoco basin in Amazonas state, Venezuela.
Peckoltia is a genus of small South American armored suckermouth catfishes. Many of these fish are popular aquarium fish.
Hemiancistrus is a genus of suckermouth armored catfishes. These species are native to South America. The taxonomy of this genus is complex and unclear, and major work has to be done. Many of these fish are popular aquarium fish.
Corymbophanes is a genus of armored catfish native to South America where they are only known from Guyana. Corymbophanes was originally placed in its own tribe Corymbophanini, but the first comprehensive molecular phylogenetic analysis of the subfamily Hypostominae found Corymbophanes to be nested within the tribe Ancistrini.
Neblinichthys is a small genus of suckermouth armored catfishes native to South America.
Ixinandria steinbachi is the only species in the genus Ixinandria of catfish of the family Loricariidae.
Harttia is a genus of armored catfishes native to South America.
Loricaria is a genus of armored catfish native to South America.
Ancistrini is a tribe of catfishes of the family Loricariidae. Most are restricted to tropical and subtropical South America, but there are also several genus in southern Central America.
Neoplecostomus is a genus of fish in the family Loricariidae native to South America. 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. They range from about 8 to 11 cm (3.1–4.3 in) SL. The species of Neoplecostomus live in fast-flowing water.
Lamontichthys is a genus of armored catfishes native to South America.
Paralithoxus is a genus of suckermouth armored catfishes native to tropical South America.
Pseudolithoxus is a genus of suckermouth armored catfishes with five described species from the basins of the Orinoco, Casiquiare and upper Rio Negro in Venezuela. Additionally, a possibly undescribed species is known from the Trombetas and Nhamundá rivers in Brazil.
Pseudancistrus zawadzkii is a species of catfish in the family Loricariidae. It is native to South America, where it occurs in the Tapajós basin, including the Tracuá River, in Brazil. It is typically found in areas with clear water, rocky outcrops, small waterfalls, and a substrate of rocks and sand. The species reaches 12.9 cm SL.
Pseudancistrus pectegenitor is a species of catfish in the family Loricariidae. It is native to South America, where it occurs in the main channel of the Orinoco near the mouth of the Ventuari River, as well as in the Casiquiare. The species is usually found in areas with flowing water near large rocky outcrops. It reaches 24.2 cm SL.
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