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Zawadzki et al (4)

Description: Anteromedial region deprived of plates and odontodes and the caudal-fin ventral lobe slightly longer than dorsal lobe. The main feature of H. velhomonge is a naked anteromedial region since the initial developing stages to the maturity. This characteristic in Hypostomus was also attributed as a possible adaptation to fast-flowing environments (Zawadzki et al., 2012). The Hypostomus genus has 7 rays to the dorsal fin whereas the similar looking Pterygoplichthys species have 10 dorsal fin rays. Habitat: Hypostomus velhomonge is distributed throughout the main course of the Parnaíba River basin, occurring on its the upper and middle portions. Some localities consisted in headwaters with higher velocity and dissolved oxygen, in an area with a high influence of the Cerrado (Silva et al., 2015). Besides its apparent restriction to the Cerrado rivers, which is different from H. johnii that only registered in the Caatinga. Colouration: Colour pattern of living specimens similar to individuals preserved in alcohol, except for more brownish grey colour on body and fins and conspicuous dark spots in living specimens. Aquarium Care: As with most of this genus, will do well in a larger aquarium, although this is one of the smaller species in the genera, and the aquarium well filtered. Water parameters can be quite diverse for this genera. Diet: Omnivore with a liking for green, tablet and frozen foods. Etymology: The specific epithet, “velhomonge”, is a reference to the Parnaíba River, commonly known as ‘Velho Monge’ (Old Monk, in English). One of the versions on the origin of this name portrays that a poet called Costa e Silva gave the river the nickname “Velho Monge” because, when seen from the city of Amarante, the confluence of Canindé River with Parnaíba River forms a landscape that, in profile, reminds the silhouette of a monk and whose foam suggests its long beard. A noun in apposition.

Hypostomus sp. 2

None

Loricariidae

South America: Brazil, main course of the Parnaíba River basin, occurring on its the upper and middle portions.

12.0cm. (4¾ins)

24-28°c (75-83°f.)

6.0-7.5.

Lustosa-Costa SY, Ramos TPA, Zawadzki CH, Lima SMQ. Review of the armoured catfish genus Hypostomus (Siluriformes: Loricariidae) from the Parnaíba River basin, Northeastern Brazil, with description of a new species. Neotrop Ichthyol. 2022.
Seidel, I. 2008. Back to Nature guide to L-catfishes, Ettlingen, Germany 208 p.