Description:
Distinguished from all other genera of Loricariinae
by usually possessing one to three premaxillary teeth
(although these are often missing) that are much reduced
in size, particularly in comparison to the dentary
teeth. The following combination of characters also
differentiates this genus from all other members of
the Loricariinae: lips with globular papillae on surface,
except for some areas close to the opening of the
mouth where the papillae are prolonged and digitiform;
distal margin of lower lip with short, triangular
filaments; premaxilla very reduced; the non-reduced
condition of the premaxilla is represented; abdomen
covered by plates, medial plates small and rhombic
between lateral abdominal plates; caudal fin with
14 total rays (12 branched); orbital notch absent;
five lateral series of plates; dorsal fin spinelet
absent; preanal plate present, large and solid, and
of irregular, polygonal shape. Trunk and caudal peduncle
becoming more compressed posteriorly for last seven
to 10 plates. Habitat: A rheophilic
species that has been collected in swift current,
over rocky substrata of stones, shingle, gravel and
sand of the main stream of Río Huallaga and
its tributaries. The type localities are located at
600 to 700 m above sea level, between the eastern
slopes of the Andean Cordillera and the western slopes
of the Cordillera Azul. In this region, the Río
Huallaga is shallow (30-250 cm) during the dry season,
but may rise to 4 m after heavy rains or during the
rainy season. Huallaga River is a white water river
ranging from 50-90 m width in the main channel during
low water level and with dense vegetation growing
along its banks. The pH, at various sites along the
river where type specimens were collected, ranged
from 7.3-7.6 with conductivity from 250-432 ?S cm?1.
The Río Monzón, next to the bridge located
7 km upstream of Tingo Maria (MUSM 38338 and MHNG
2710.048 were collected), is a clear water river with
50 cm of visibility and with sandy areas and pebbles
along the shore. Rheophilic fauna collected together
with some of the specimen were Chaetostoma,
Hypostomus, Lamontichthys, Spatuloricaria,
Ancistrus, Farlowella, Pimelodella,
Centromochlus, Parodon, Hemibrycon,
Knodus and Eigenmannia.
South America:
Peru. Type locality: Río Huallaga,
between Tingo Maria and Aucayacu, Huanuco Department,
Leoncio Prado Province, Peru, ca. 9°19'22''S,
76°01'50''W.
Size:
17.5cm. (20ins)
Temp:
24-28°c (71-83°f.)
p.H.
6.0-7.0.
Reference:
Froese, R. and D. Pauly.
Editors. 2018. FishBase. World Wide Web electronic
publication. www.fishbase.org, (06/2018). Rodriguez, M.S., H.
Ortega and R. Covain,
2011. Intergeneric phylogenetic relationships in catfishes
of the Loricariinae (Siluriformes: Loricariidae),
with the description of Fonchiiloricaria nanodon:
a new genus and species from Peru. J. Fish Biol.
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