Pseudacanthicus

Taxobox
name = "Pseudacanthicus"
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Actinopterygii
ordo = Siluriformes
familia = Loricariidae
subfamilia = Hypostominae
tribus = Ancistrini
genus = "Pseudacanthicus"
genus_authority = Bleeker, 1862
type_species = "Hypostomus serratus"
type_species_authority = Valenciennes, 1840
subdivision_ranks = Binomial name
subdivision =
"Pseudacanthicus fordii"
(Günther, 1868)
"Pseudacanthicus histrix"
(Valenciennes, 1840)
"Pseudacanthicus leopardus"
(Fowler, 1914)
"Pseudacanthicus serratus"
(Valenciennes, 1840)
"Pseudacanthicus spinosus"
(Castelnau, 1855)


synonyms ="Stoneiella" Fowler, 1914

"Pseudacanthicus" is a genus of catfishes (order Siluriformes) of the family Loricariidae. It includes five species, "P. fordii", "P. histrix", "P. leopardus", "P. serratus", and "P. spinosus".cite journal|url=http://silurus.acnatsci.org/ACSI/library/biblios/2007_Ferraris_Catfish_Checklist.pdf|title=Checklist of catfishes, recent and fossil (Osteichthyes: Siluriformes), and catalogue of siluriform primary types|first=Carl J., Jr.|last=Ferraris|journal=Zootaxa|volume=1418|pages=1–628|year=2007|format=PDF]

Distribution

"Pseudacanthicus" is distributed in the Orinoco, the Guyanas, the Rio Negro, and the lower Amazonian tributaries.cite web|url=http://www.auburn.edu/academic/science_math/res_area/loricariid/fish_key/Acanth/pseudac.html|title="Pseudacanthicus" Bleeker, 1862|first=Jonathan W.|last=Armbruster|accessdate=2007-07-24] "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.

Description

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. Colouration varies between rivers and can also change throughout the lifetime of a single individual. 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.

"P. leopardus" grows to a modest size of about 15 centimetres (6 in) TL.FishBase species|genus=Pseudacanthicus|species=leopardus|year=2007|month=July] "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.FishBase species|genus=Pseudacanthicus|species=fordii|year=2007|month=July] FishBase species|genus=Pseudacanthicus|species=spinosus|year=2007|month=July] FishBase species|genus=Pseudacanthicus|species=serratus|year=2007|month=July] "P. histrix" is reported to grow as large as 90 cm (35 in) TL.FishBase species|genus=Pseudacanthicus|species=histrix|year=2007|month=July]

"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.

"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.

In the aquarium

"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.cite web|url=http://www.planetcatfish.com/cotm/cotm.php?article_id=123|title=PlanetCatfish::Catfish of the Month::August 2002|date=2005-07-26|accessdate=2007-07-24]

References