Description:
Dorsal spines (total): 2; Dorsal soft rays (total):
7; Anal spines: 1; Anal soft rays: 4. This species
is distinguished by the following characters: teeth
bifid teeth (vs. spoon-shaped); dark spots on a light
background (vs light spots on a dark background or
not spotted); 4 rough lateral ridges on flanks (vs.
absent); 26-29 lateral series plates (vs. < 28
in several species, 31-32 in H.
laplatae); 1-2 plates
bordering posterior margin of the supraoccipital bone
(vs. 3-4 in H. laplatae); differs from H.
affinis, H.
punctatus, H.
ancistroides by having inter-dorsal distance
14.4-19.5% in SL (vs. 18.9-21.0%); head depth 49.0-71.6%
in HL (vs. 48.2-49.9); differs from H. spiniger
by having fine lateral ridges with odontodes posteriorly
inclined (vs. large lateral ridges with odontodes
in all directions), weak lateral ridges in caudal
peduncle (vs. strong), mid lateral ridge from first
plate (vs. ridge from 2nd or 3rd plates); adult of
this species (> 12.0 cm SL) can be distinguished
from adult H. spiniger by having a strong
ridge on temporal plate (vs. very week). The Hypostomus
genus has 7 rays to the dorsal fin whereas the similar
looking Pterygoplichthys species have 10 dorsal
fin rays. Habitat: This species is
quite abundant in the La Plata region in the estuarine
waters and in the arroyos and laguna's. Occurs in
rivers where substrate from which specimens were obtained
was composed chiefly of muddy sand. This species was
found in moderately oxygenated waters (6.1-9.1 mg/l)
with moderate current; water turbidity 23.7-442 NTU,
conductivity 1.087-2.654 ?S/cm, pH 7.2-9.2, and temperature
16.8-27.8°C. (Cardoso, Y. P. et. al. 2019). Reproduction:
Spawns between November and February in the ponds
and small lagoons. The youngsters feed on the organic
material found on the muddy bottom. Aquarium
Care: As with most of this genus, will do
well in a larger aquarium which is well filtered.
Water parameters can be quite diverse for this genera.
Diet: Omnivore with a liking for
green, tablet and frozen foods. Etymology:
The specific game commersoni: In honour of
French naturalist Philibert Commerçon (also
spelled Commerson, 1727–1773), who provided
an illustration of this species which Lacépède
confused with H. plecostomus in 1803.
South America:
Middle and lower Paraná and Uruguay River basins;
Laguna dos Patos basin. Type locality:
La Plata River, Uruguay.
Size:
60.0cm. (24ins)
Temp:
22-25°c (71-77°f.)
p.H.
6.5-7.2.
IUCN
Red List
Despite
the little information available on this species, it
has a wide range and no apparent threats. Therefore,
it is assessed as Least
Concern (IUCN 2023).
Hypostomus
commersoni Berisso-Buenos Aires Province, Argentina
Hypostomus
commersoni Cerro Largo Department, Uruguay
Hypostomus
commersoni Cerro Largo Department, Uruguay
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