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Spectracanthicus punctatissimus (Steindachner, 1881)

Image contributors to this species:

Alan Raeburn (2) Johnny Jensen's Photographic Library (2) Daniel Konn-Vetterlein (1) Haakon Haagensen (2)

ScotCat Sources:

Other Sources:

Relevant Information:

Description: Spectracanthicus punctatissimus can be distinguished from all congeners by having 12-14 vertebrae from first neural spine not including hypural plate (vs.8-11 in remaining species). It further differs from its congeners (except from S. murinus) by having yellowish bars on tip of dorsal and caudal fins; from S. immaculatus and S. zuanoni by having small yellowish dots covering body (vs.colour pattern uniform, with no dots or large white spots, respectively); and from S. tocantinensis by having the rounded dorsal profile of snout (vs.snout pointed). Spectracanthicus punctatissimus differs from S. murinus by presence of a bar-shaped eversible opercle with conspicuous odontodes (vs. triangle-shaped opercle not eversible, without conspicuous odontodes) and by the presence of 4 unbranched anal-fin rays (vs. 3 anal-fin unbranched rays). Aquarium Care: Should be no problem in the aquarium but would need a strong current and oxygen rich water due to the high temperatures enjoyed by this genus. Sexual Differences: Males have a longer and broader head and a larger growth of odontodes behind the gill covers and on the pectoral fin spines. Diet: Omnivore. A varied diet with both vegetable and other foods such as tablet and frozen. Remarks: As of 2019, L016 and L315 are now believed to be this species and also the genus of Oligancistrus is now a synonym of Spectracanthicus.

Common Name:

Peppermint Pleco, L016, L030, L315

Synonyms:

Chaetostomus punctatissimus, Parancistrus punctatissimus, Hypostomus niveatus, Oligancistrus punctatissimus.

Family:

Loricariidae

Distribution:

Brazil: Pará, Rio Xingu (Altamira).

Size:

15.0cm. (6ins)

Temp:

26-30°c (79-87°f)

p.H.

6.0-7.2.

Reference:

Chamon, C.C. and L.H. Rapp Py-Daniel, 2014. Taxonomic revision of Spectracanthicus Nijssen & Isbrücker (Loricariidae: Hypostominae: Ancistrini), with description of three new species. Neotrop. Ichthyol. 12(1):1-25.
Daniel Konn-Vetterlein: Pers. comm. 2019.
Seidel, I. 2008. Back to Nature guide to L-catfishes, Ettlingen, Germany 208 p.
www.loricariidae.info

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

Spectracanthicus punctatissimus

Spectracanthicus punctatissimus

Spectracanthicus punctatissimus
Showing dorsal fin

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