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Nathan Lujan (3) Steven Milne (1)

Similar to P. nicoi but this species has white edging to the dorsal and caudal fins. Description: The genus Pseudolithoxus now includes six species, P. anthrax, P. dumus, P. kelsorum, P. nicoi, and P. kinja. Previously described as the Lasiancistrus anthrax group. They are characterized by evertible cheek plates, a very dorsoventrally flattened body, extremely hypertrophied odontodes (integumentary teeth) on elongated pectoral spines and along the snout margin, and 3 rows of plates on the caudal peduncle. In addition, it appears as if females as well as males develop hypertrophied snout and pectoral-fin odontodes, traits normally restricted to nuptial males in other Loricariids. Dorsal spines (total): 2; Dorsal soft rays (total): 7; Anal spines: 1; Anal soft rays: 5. Body and head with numerous black bars. Lateral line plates 23-24; dorsal plates 7-8; interdorsal plates 4-5; adipose-caudal plates 7-8; folded dorsal fin plates 11-12; and postanal plates 11-12. Colouration: Pseudolithoxus kelsorum is diagnosed from all other Pseudolithoxus by having dark brown to black base colour with eight to 11 (usually nine) light yellowish vertical or oblique (tilted dorsoanteriorly) transversal bands between orbits and caudal fin, bands wide and rarely but sometimes incomplete or contorted as swirls; vs. dark brown to black base color with 18 or more thin, light yellow, frequently contorted transversal bands between orbits and caudal fin in P. tigris, black base colour with small white spots in P. anthrax and P. nicoi; and light brown base colour with dark brown to black spots in P. dumus. Aquarium Care: I would suggest a minimum size of 48” x 18” X 18” for one or two of these catfish, with plenty of hiding places amongst bogwood and plantsand the ideal aquarium substrate to use would be aquarium sand such as BD Aquarium Sand. As with all other species of fish, water quality and general husbandry is very important, and I would recommend that a minimum of 25% water is changed on a weekly basis. This fish has similar requirements to other loricariids, so should do well under normal aquarium conditions. Sexual Differences: Females have a narrower head with a larger body while males possess odontodes on the edge of the snout, behind the gill cover and to the pectoral fin spine. Diet: Omnivore: vegetable and animal foods such as green foods, vegetable tablets, live and frozen foods.

L189

None

Loricariidae

South America: Venezuela, Amazonas State, Orinoco River drainage. Known only from a single site on the Orinoco River just above the Maipures rapids and approximately 60 km south of the Atures rapids.

15.0cm. (6ins)

25-29°c (77-85°f)

6.0-7.0.

Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors. 2018. FishBase. World Wide Web electronic publication. www.fishbase.org, ( 02/2018 ).
Lujan, N.K. and J.N.O. Birindelli, 2011. A new distinctively banded species of Pseudolithoxus (Siluriformes: Loricariidae) from the upper Orinoco River. Zootaxa 2941:38-46.
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