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This species has more of a slender body than any other member of this genera and the ventral fins are very large. They posses a reticulated design on the head and pectoral fins. Description: Pseudohemiodon almendarizi can be distinguished from all its congeners by the combinations of the following characters: abdomen totally covered with small to medium-sized, irregularly shaped plates (vs. abdomen partially covered, in P. platycephalus and P. amazonum or covered by one central row of plates wide and rectangular, in P. thorectes); absence of small, bony plates, anterior to gill openings (vs. presence of one to three small plates in front of the gill openings, in P. lamina); 12–15 coalescing lateral scutes (vs. 20–21 in P. thorectes); thoracic plates (between pectoral and pelvic fins) fold sideways (vs. thoracic plates do not fold in P. amazonum); eyes relatively smaller, its diameter without notch fits 12.0–12.7 times in HL (vs. 8.3–11.8 times in HL in P. apithanos, 7.1–9.0 times in HL in P. lamina, 8.2–8.7 times in HL in P. laticeps and 8.1–9.2 times in HL in P. unillano); body less wide at anal-fin origin 10.4%–12.0% SL (vs. 13.4%–17.7% SL in P apithanos, 12.8%–13.9% SL in P. laticeps, 11.9%–17.1% SL in P. unillano); six or seven wide and dark transverse bands, posterior to dorsal-fin (vs. bands absent in P. laticeps, P. unillano, and medium to large sized P. lamina (over 60 mm SL) or no more than three or four transverse dark bands posterior to dorsal-fin in P. apithanos, or up to eight in very small sized (below 55 mm SL) of P. lamina (Provenzano-Rizzi et. al 2022). Sexual Differences: Mature males will develop their lower lips to allow them to carry their eggs (abdomino-lip brooders). The very large eggs are incubated by the male. Aquarium Care: Requires a large aquarium witha big surface area. Prefers a sand substrate as they like to dig. Diet: Algae wafers, sinking tablet and frozen foods such as bloodworm and shrimp. Etymology: The specific name honours Ana de Lourdes Almendáriz, in recognition of her significant contributions to the Ecuador herpetofauna knowledge, and her enthusiasm and friendship for many years. Noun in apposition. Remarks: As it is named after a woman, the correct species epithet should be almendarizae.

Pseudohemiodon sp. "Peru 1", Pseudohemiodon sp. "Peru 2"

None

Loricariidae

South America: Aguarico River, near Puerto Loja, Napo River system, Amazon River Basin, approx. 00°52’57”S 75°13’30”W.

15.0cm. (6ins)

24-28°c (75-83°f)

6.0-7.0.

Evers, H.-G. & I. Seidel: Mergus, Baensch Catfish Atlas Volume 1, 1st English edn., 2005. Pp.944.
Provenzano-Rizzi, Francisco, Argüello, Pablo, & Barriga-Salazar, Ramiro. (2022). Pseudohemiodon almendarizi Provenzano-Rizzi & Argüello & Barriga-Salazar 2022, new species. In The genus Pseudohemiodon (Siluriformes, Loricariidae) in Ecuador, with the description of a new species, pp. 77-91 in Zootaxa (Vol. 5129, Number 1, pp. 79–81). Zenodo.