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 ay back in the year 1995 a very nice striped Hypancistrus emerged from Venezuela and was given the L-number of 199 in the September edition of the Datz magazine in Germany. Fast forward 12 years to 2007 and this Hypancistrus species was described by Armbruster, Lujan & Taphorn as H. furunculus. It is one of the more rare Hypancistrus species from the Orinoco delta. It has a quite distinct body and head shape that makes it fairly easy to identify, and young individuals can especially show a very beautiful zebra pattern. Compared to other striped Orinoco-based Hypancistrus species, Hypancistrus furunculus has wider stripes.

Hypancistrus furunculus

in their paper of 2007, Armbruster, Lujan & Taphorn described Hypancistrus furunculus (L199) along with three other species, H. contradens, (L201 which was first thought to be H. inspector and is now a different species), H. lunaorum (L339) and H. debilittera (L129).

Hypancistrus furunculus - The specific name for a petty thief or pilferer, and is in reference to the dark band between the eyes that is similar to a bandit’s mask

Hypancistrus furunculus can be distinguished from H. contradens, H. inspector, and H. lunaorum by having oblique bars on the anterior part of the body and horizontal bands in the dorsal fin (vs. white spots); from H. debilittera by having complete bands in the dorsal fin (vs. incomplete bands), dark E on snout distinct (vs. absent or indistinct), anterior dark bars complete, straight, and distinct (vs. incomplete, vermiculate, and/or indistinct) and by having the light bands in the caudal about equal in width with dark bands (vs. light bands less than half the width of the dark bands); from H. zebra by having a tan background colour (vs. almost white), by having only one oblique stripe on the body and dorsal saddles posteriorly (vs. sides completely with oblique stripes).

Similar to the Panaque/Panaqolus and Peckoltia genera but have fewer and larger teeth in the lower and upper jaw.

Hypancistrus furunculus - Showing the complete bands in the dorsal fin

L199

None

Hypostominae

Venezuela: Upper Orinoco drainage. Type Locality: Venezuela, Amazonas, Cucue Amerindian village on Rio Orinoco, 60 km E of San Juan de Atabapo.

12.0cm. (4¾ins)

24-27°c (75-81°f.)

Oblique bars on the anterior part of the body and horizontal bands in the dorsal fin. Complete bands in the dorsal fin. dark E on snout. Anterior dark bars complete and straight, Light bands in the caudal about equal in width with dark bands.

No problem with keeping in groups but only one Hypancistrus species to a tank as there has been reports of hybridisation. Provide some water movement in the aquarium with a sandy substrate, caves and rockwork to provide hiding places. No problem with other non-aggresive fish in a community tank. They prefer water that is on the warm side (27-30°c), soft and slightly acidic.

Has been bred successfully in the hobby. Will lay 20 to 30 large eggs. Leaving their cave the youngsters can be around the 1.5cm.(¾ins) length. The male is responsible for the brood care.

Males posses a broader and longer head and odontodes on the posterior part of the body, behind the gill covers and on the pectoral fin spines. The latter two are a lot shorter in the females.

Omnivores, juveniles are keen on vegetable foods whereas adults are less so. Frozen foods such as brine shrimp, mosquito larvae and mussels as well as tablet foods.

Caudal fin: The tail.
Dorsal fin: The primary rayed fin(s) on top of the body.
Gills: The organs utilized to obtain oxygen from the water.
Odontodes: Hair-like stuctures on the body.

Hypancistrus: Greek, hypo = under + Greek, agkistron = hook.
furunculus: Latin for a petty thief or pilferer, and is in reference to the dark band between the eyes that is similar to a bandit’s mask. Treated as a noun in apposition.

Photo Credits

© Haakon Haagensen @  
© Andrew Campbell
Map: commons.wikimedia.org CC BY-SA 4.0