Description:
The genera Paralithoxus
has been reserected in a new paper (2018) by Lujan
et al. Paralithoxus can be diagnosed from
other members of Lithoxini by having at most low hemispherical
papillae around the oral disc margin (vs. digitate
papillae in Exastilithoxus), 14 (rarely 13)
branched caudal-fin rays (vs. 12 in Avalithoxus),
five branched anal-fin rays (vs. four in Avalithoxus
and Lithoxus), seven to nine interdorsal
plates (vs. five in Avalithoxus and Lithoxus),
and five rows of plates on the caudal peduncle (vs.
three in Avalithoxus and Lithoxus).
Similar to P.
surinemensis
from the same locations but P. pallidimaculatus
has more operecular odontodes and is lighter coloured.
Does not possess an adipose fin. Aquarium
Care: Quite a demanding genera which need
pure, oxygen rich water. They need plenty of hiding
places and the aquarium to be very strongly filtered.
Diet: Insectivores that feed in their
natural habitat from insect larvae on rocks. Feed
Frozen mosquito larvae, brine shrimp and Daphnia.
They will also except tablet foods. Etymology:
the specific species name for pallidimaculatus
refers to the bright spots on the body. Remarks:
Still found on some online sources as Lithoxus
pallidimaculatus.
Common
Name:
None
Synonyms:
Lithoxuspallidimaculatus
Family:
Loricariidae
Distribution:
South America:
from Cajana Creek, Gran Rio drainage, Suriname.
Size:
5.0cm. (2ins)
Temp:
23-27°c (73-81°f)
p.H.
6.0-7.5.
Reference:
Lujan, NK; Armbruster,
JW & Lovejoy, NR, 2018 "Multilocus
phylogeny, diagnosis and generic revision of the Guiana
Shield endemic suckermouth armored catfish tribe Lithoxini
(Loricariidae: Hypostominae)" (Zoological Journal
of the Linnean Society, Vol. 20). Seidel, I.
2008. Back to Nature guide to L-catfishes, Ettlingen,
Germany 208 p. www.l-welse.com
Paralithoxus
pallidimaculatus Cajana Creek, Gran Rio drainage, Suriname
Paralithoxus
pallidimaculatus Dorsal view-Cajana Creek, Gran Rio drainage, Suriname
If you would like to contribute to the monthly
factsheets with an article, information or photos, please e-mail
me. You will of course be credited for your work.
If you would like to donate any denomination
of monies to the site just click the above link button. All proceeds
will go to running the site and hopefully to keep it going for a few
years yet.