Pseudancistrus

Taxobox
name = "Pseudancistrus"


image_width = 250px
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Actinopterygii
ordo = Siluriformes
familia = Loricariidae
subfamilia = Hypostominae
tribus = Ancistrini
genus = "Pseudancistrus"
genus_authority = Bleeker, 1862
subdivision_ranks = Species
subdivision = "P. barbatus"
"P. brevispinis"
"P. coquenani"
"P. depressus"
"P. genisetiger"
"P. guentheri"
"P. longispinis"
"P. niger"
"P. nigrescens"
"P. orinoco"
"P. papariae"
"P. pectegenitor"cite journal|url=http://www.pfeil-verlag.de/04biol/pdf/ief18_2_08.pdf|title=Two new species of "Pseudancistrus" from southern Venezuela (Siluriformes: Loricariidae)|first=Nathan K.|last=Lujan|coauthors=Armbruster, Jonathan W.; Sabaj, Mark H. Sabaj|journal=Ichthyol. Explor. Freshwaters|volume=18|issue=2|pages=163–174|date=June 2007|format=PDF]
"P. reus" [cite journal|url=http://mapress.com/zootaxa/2008/f/z01731p041f.pdf|title=A new species of Pseudancistrus from the Río Caroní, Venezuela (Siluriformes: Loricariidae)|first=Jonathan W.|last=Armbruster|coauthors=Taphorn, Donald C. |journal=Zootaxa|volume=1731|pages=33–41|date=2008|format=PDF]
"P. schomburgkii"
"P. sidereus"
"P. yekuana"
synonyms =
*"Lithoxancistrus" Isbrücker, Nijssen, and Cala 1988
*"Guyanancistrus" Isbrücker 2001

"Pseudancistrus" is a genus of catfishes (order Siluriformes) of the family Loricariidae.

Taxonomy

"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.cite journal|url=http://www.mapress.com/zootaxa/2004f/zt00628.pdf|journal=Zootaxa|volume=628|pages=1–15|year=2004|title="Pseudancistrus sidereus", a new species from southern Venezuela (Siluriformes: Loricariidae) with a redescription of Pseudancistrus|last=Armbruster|first=Jonathan W.|format=PDF] Currently, there are 16 recognized species distributed in northern South America, with the inclusion of the genera "Lithoxancistrus", "Guyanancistrus", and the species formerly known as "Hemiancistrus megacephalus". There is no single morphological feature which distinguishes the group from related genera. Despite this, "Pseudancistrus" is generally recognized as a monophyletic group.

Distribution and habitat

"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.

Description

There is a considerable variation in size within this genus, up to around 20 cm standard length. Most species are not able to evert their cheek plates. In some species, odontodes on the snout may sometimes be extremely hypertrophied. 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.

References