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Zierfisch Zentrum Austria (1) Ingo Seidel (1)

Abstract: With 76 currently valid species, the bushynose catfish genus Ancistrus is the fourth most species-rich catfish genus, yet Ancistrus diversity remains underestimated, with many species still undescribed. This is especially true of the Peruvian Andean headwaters of the Amazon, which are rich in unnamed Ancistrus species but have received little recent taxonomic attention. We describe a distinctively striped new Ancistrus species from tributaries of the Palcazú River, in the Pachitea-Ucayali-Amazonas drainage basin. The new species differs from all congeners by having black, vermiculated lines covering the head and two to four distinct black, parallel, lateral body stripes from head to caudal fin (vs. body uniformly coloured or with dark or light spots or blotches over head and body, or black vermiculate lines on flanks). The new species is the fifth valid species of Ancistrus described from the rich Ucayali River ichthyofauna (Neuhaus, E. B. et al 2023). Aquarium Care: The Ancistrus genera make good community fish where they do not grow too big for the aquarium. Some species have different requirements in the aquarium so best to read up on the species you have whereas if they need higher oxygen requirements or not, or if they prefer cooler waters if they originate from the southern parts of South America against the species from further up north. Diet: Vegetable foods such as cucumber and courgette and also tablet and meaty foods. Reproduction: Lay their eggs in caves as a cluster and the first signs of the breeding process is a few tiny fry darting around the community tank. Etymology: The specific name honours the Yanesha, or Amuesha, indigenous community, who occupy territories along the species' distribution. Yanesha literally translates to “we, the people” and the community is known for its strength, resilience and resilience in the face of various challenges throughout Peru’s history. Remarks: It has previously been recognised in the aquarium fish trade as Ancistrus sp. (L267).

L267, Four stripe Ancistrus

None

Loricariidae

Peru: Tributaries of the Palcazú River, in the Pachitea-Ucayali-Amazonas drainage basin.

15.0cm. (6ins)

24-29°c (75-85°f.)

6.0-8.0.

Neuhaus, E. B., Meza-Vargas, V., Herrera, J. R., & Lujan, N. K. (2023). A new distinctively striped species of bushynose catfish (Siluriformes: Loricariidae: Ancistrus) from the Pachitea River drainage, Pasco, Peru. Journal of Fish Biology, 1–10.
Seidel, Ingo; Back to Nature guide to L-catfishes 208 p.