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Neblinichthys pilosus Ferraris, Isbrücker & Nijssen, 1986

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Relevant Information:

Habitat: This species is only known from Baria River, Negro River drainage, in Amazonas state. It inhabits rapids with swift currents and rocky substrates (Armbruster and Taphorn 2013). The genus ranges across the Western Guiana Shield in small streams; however, a giant gap in the range occurs from Pico Neblina to the upper Caroni. This gap is at least partially bridged by specimens collected in the middle Río Paragua, a tributary of the R ío Caroni in eastern Venezuela. Sexual Dimorphism. Species of Neblinichthys are known for their extremely large odontodes on the snouts of nuptial males (nuptial males of N. yaravi and fully developed males of N. brevibracchium Taphorn, Armbruster, López-Fernández & Bernard, are not known), which are directed anterodorsally in N. pilosus Ferraris, Isbrücker & Nijssen and N. roraima Provenzano, Lasso & Ponte and largely anteriorly in N. echinasus Taphorn, Armbruster, López-Fernández & Bernard. Etymology: The genus name Neblinichthys: brevis (L.), short; bracchium (L.), forearm, referring to relatively short pectoral spines present in the genus. The specific Name pilosus: Latin for hairy, referring to the “hair-styled” (quotes in original) bristles of mature males. Remarks: This species has a relatively restricted distribution but there are no known threats to it at present. Therefore, it is assessed as Least Concern. Threats including pollution and habitat loss might arise in the future if illegal gold mines continue to spread in the area (IUCN 2019).

Common Name:

Punk Pleco

Synonyms:

None

Family:

Loricariidae

Distribution:

South America: Upper Negro, Casiquiare and Baria River basins, Venezuela. Type locality: Venezuela, Territorio Federal Amazonas; Dept. Rio Negro, Rio Baria basin. Rio Mawarinuma tributary at Neblina base camp, on right bank in riffle, 0º55'N, 66º10'W, elevation 120 m.

Size:

9.0cm. (3¾ins)

Temp:

20-25°c (67-77°f.)

p.H.

6.0-7.2.

Reference:

Echevarría, G. 2019. Neblinichthys pilosus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2019.
Ferraris, C.J. Jr., 2007. Checklist of catfishes, recent and fossil (Osteichthyes: Siluriformes), and catalogue of siluriform primary types. Zootaxa 1418:1-628.
Fisch-Muller, S., 2003. Loricariidae-Ancistrinae (Armored catfishes). p. 373-400. In R.E. Reis, S.O. Kullander and C.J. Ferraris, Jr. (eds.) Checklist of the Freshwater Fishes of South and Central America. Porto Alegre: EDIPUCRS, Brasil.
Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors. 2024. FishBase. World Wide Web electronic publication. www.fishbase.org, ( 10/2024 ).
The ETYFish Project Fish Name Etymology Database © Christopher Scharpf.
www.suedamerikafans.de

Family: Loricariidae Back to Ident-A-Cat Click on Thumbnails

Neblinichthys pilosus
Paratype-lateral view-Venezuela, Departamento Rio Negro; Rio Mawarinuma 1 km upstream of Neblina base camp in rif

Neblinichthys pilosus
Paratype-dorsal view-Venezuela, Departamento Rio Negro; Rio Mawarinuma 1 km upstream of Neblina base camp in rif

Neblinichthys pilosus
Paratype-ventral view-Venezuela, Departamento Rio Negro; Rio Mawarinuma 1 km upstream of Neblina base camp in rif

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