Pseudacanthicus

Pseudacanthicus is a genus of medium to large-sized suckermouth armored catfishes native to South America, where found in the Amazon and Orinoco basins, as well as rivers of the Guianas.[1][2] They are primarily found in fast-flowing waters, sometimes relatively deep.[2] They are sometimes kept in aquariums.[3]

Pseudacanthicus
Pseudacanthicus spinosus above, Pseudacanthicus leopardus below
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Siluriformes
Family: Loricariidae
Tribe: Ancistrini
Genus: Pseudacanthicus
Bleeker, 1862
Type species
Hypostomus serratus

Species

There are currently 8 recognized species in this genus:[4]

Some of these were only recently described and undescribed species probably remain.[7][8] In contrast, P. fordii is likely a synonym of P. serratus, and P. histrix likely a synonym of P. spinosus.[7][8]

Description

Species of Pseudacanthicus are medium to large spiny loricariids, up to 90 cm (3 ft) in standard length.[2] They have a diverse range of colour patterns, typically light to dark grey or brown, often with black spots, which may result in a netted appearance. The fins and body may have orange-red sections or a red wash.[1] 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.[1] The caudal fin is forked and may have filaments.[2] The jaws are short, forming an acute angle at their union; the teeth are few and stout. The adipose fin is present.[1]

Conservation

Some of the species in the genus are threatened by mining, deforestation and especially the building of dams.[6] Like many other loricariids, Pseudacanthicus are found in flowing waters with high levels of oxygen and dams typically flood these, transforming them to reservoirs. In some regions where dams have been built, the local populations of Pseudacanthicus have seriously decreased or even disappeared.[6][7] In contrast, although some species often are caught for the aquarium trade, this does not appear to represent a serious threat to them.[6][7]

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References
  1. Armbruster, Jonathan W. "Pseudacanthicus Bleeker, 1862". Retrieved 2007-07-24.
  2. van der Sleen, P.; J.S. Albert, eds. (2017). Field Guide to the Fishes of the Amazon, Orinoco, and Guianas. Princeton University Press. p. 283. ISBN 978-0691170749.
  3. "PlanetCatfish::Catfish of the Month::August 2002". 2005-07-26. Retrieved 2007-07-24.
  4. Froese, Rainer and Pauly, Daniel, eds. (2017). Species of Pseudacanthicus in FishBase. June 2017 version.
  5. Chamon, Carine C. ; and Thiago Costa e Silva (2018). Pseudacanthicus major: Description of One of the Largest Known Loricariidae (Hypostominae: Ancistrini), A Species from rio Tocantins Basin, Brazil. Zootaxa. 4387(3); 499–510. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.4387.3.5
  6. Chamon, C.C. & Sousa, L.M. (2016): A new species of the leopard pleco genus Pseudacanthicus (Siluriformes: Loricariidae) from the Rio Xingu, Brazil. Journal of Fish Biology, 90 (1): 356-369.
  7. Chamon, C.C. (2015): Pseudacanthicus pitanga: a new species of Ancistrini (Siluriformes: Loricariidae: Hypostominae) from rio Tocantins Basin, North Brazil. Zootaxa, 3973 (2): 309–319.
  8. Chamon, C.C. (2011). Revisão taxonômica e relações filogenéticas do grupo Acanthicus (Siluriformes, Loricariidae) (PhD). São Paulo State University.
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