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Hopliancistrus tricornis Isbrücker & Nijssen, 1989

Image contributors to this species:

de Oliveira RR, Zuanon J, Py-Daniel LHR, Birindelli JLO, Sousa LM 2021 (3)

ScotCat Sources:

Other Sources:

Relevant Information:

This genera is similar to the Ancistrus in appearance. They possess three stout odonodes concealed beneath the gill covers which act as a defense mechanism. Hopliancistrus tricornis is distinguished from its congeners by having four branched rays on anal fin (vs. five branched rays). Description: Distinguished from its congeners except H. munduruku by having large yellowish-white spots along the body, and dark brown spots on fins (vs. body covered by conspicuous small greenish-yellow dots of similar size on head, trunk and fins in H. wolverine; yellowish-white spots on posterior portion of the body moderate in size, usually smaller than pupil in H. xikrin; all fins covered by large yellowish-white spots in H. xavante). Can be distinguished from its congeners except H. wolverine by a narrow, bar-shaped connection strut between anterior process of compound pterotic and main body, leaving a large posterior gap (vs. connection strut as a continuous sheet). Differs from H. wolverine and H. xikrin by pectoral-fin spine length 25.1–29.9% of SL (vs. 32.1–38.4% of SL and 32.1–35.7% of SL, respectively). It also differs from H. xikrin by the transverse process of first dorsal-fin pterygiophore sutured to the transverse process of the second pterygiophore (vs. absence of contact between the transverse processes of first and second dorsal-fin pterygiophores). Differs from H. xavante by caudal peduncle depth 9.7–11.3% of SL (vs. 11.5–12.9% of SL); by narrow nasal bone plate (vs. broad nasal, sometimes slightly triangular, see Fig 2); and by having nuchal plate exposed, and covered by odontodes (vs. nuchal plate covered by thick skin and usually lacking odontodes. Habitat: Hopliancistrus tricornis is apparently restricted to the middle portion of the Rio Tapajo's basin in the São Luiz rapids, and its main tributaries, such as the lower portions of Rio Jamanxim and Rio Itapacura. This species is also found in small tributaries, such as Igarape Leitoso, tributary of the Rio Cupari, Ruro´polis municipality, Para´ State. Aquarium Care: Likes a current in the aquarium and are peaceful habitants. Likes a higher temperature and need frequent water changes to keep them in good health. Sexual Differences: Males posses a broad head region and more prominent bristling on the edge of the snout. Diet: Omnivore; veg foods such as lettuce, spinach, cucumber and veg. tablets. Live and frozen foods such as Cyclops, Daphnia and brine shrimp. Etymology: The specific name tricornis: tri– (L.), three; cornis (L.), horn, referring to three horn-shaped odontodes along the interopercular in both sexes.

Common Name:

L212

Synonyms:

None

Family:

Loricariidae

Distribution:

South America: Tapajós and Xingu River basins in Brazil. Type locality: Brasilien, Est. Pará, Poça de Pedra no Rio Tapajós, São Luis.

Size:

12.0cm. (4¾ins)

Temp:

26-30°c (79-87°f.)

p.H.

5.5-7.0.

IUCN Red List

Hopliancistrus tricornis is endemic to Brazil and occurs in the middle Tapajós and Jamanxim river basins in the state of Pará. It is a species associated with rocky areas and rapids, infrequent, but which can be abundant in the places where it occurs. The main threat to its subpopulations is related to the construction of hydroelectric power plants (HPPs) in areas where the species occurs, namely in the drainages of the Tapajós and Jamanxim rivers (São Luiz, Jatobá, Jamanxim, Cachoeira do Caí, Cachoeira dos Patos and Jardim do Ouro HPPs). It has been inferred that approximately 50% of the extent of occurrence (EOO) of H. tricornis will be impacted by the planned dams. Considering the current Brazilian energy planning for the Amazon basin and the constructions already planned for the river basins where the species occurs, there will be a considerable loss of habitat and a decrease in its area of occupancy. Thus, it is suspected that this would lead to a population reduction of at least 50% in 15 years or in three generational periods, categorising Hopliancistrus tricornis as Endangered (EN) under criterion A3c, (IUCN 2022).

Reference:

Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation (ICMBio). 2022. Hopliancistrus tricornis. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2022.
de Oliveira RR, Zuanon J, Py-Daniel LHR, Birindelli JLO, Sousa LM (2021) Taxonomic revision of Hopliancistrus Isbru¨cker & Nijssen, 1989 (Siluriformes, Loricariidae) with redescription of Hopliancistrus tricornis and description of four new species. PLoS ONE 16(1): e0244894.
Ferraris, C.J. Jr., 2007. Checklist of catfishes, recent and fossil (Osteichthyes: Siluriformes), and catalogue of siluriform primary types. Zootaxa 1418:1-628.
Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors. 2020. FishBase. World Wide Web electronic publication. www.fishbase.org, ( 12/2020 ).
Montoya-Burgos, J.-I., S. Muller, C. Weber and J. Pawlowski, 1998. Phylogenetic relationships of the Loricariidae (Siluriformes) based on mitochondrial rRNA gene sequences. p. 363-374. In L.R. Malabarba, R.E. Reis, R.P. Vari, Z.M.S. Lucena and C.A.S. Lucena (eds.) Phylogeny and classification of neotropical fishes. Porto Alegre: EDIPUCRS.
Seidel, I. 2008. Back to Nature guide to L-catfishes, Ettlingen, Germany 208 p.
The ETYFish Project Fish Name Etymology Database © Christopher Scharpf.

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

Hopliancistrus tricornis

Hopliancistrus tricornis
Dorsal view

Hopliancistrus tricornis
Ventral view

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