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Steven Grant (2)

This genus is closely related to Hypoptopoma but has a single line of enlarged odontoded running along the body just above the lateral line and the posterior body and the caudal peduncle are flat, whereas the genus Hypoptopoma has a circular section. They also posses a narrower head than the species of Hypoptopoma. Both genera have their eyes high up on the head. The type species, Oxyropsis wrightiana Eigenmann and Eigenmann (1889), occurs in the upper Amazon and lower Ucayali River basins and is diagnosed among congeners by the presence of seven ultimate median series trunk plates, which are progressively smaller and narrower than the immediately preceding plates, and by pectoral spine serrae either extremely reduced in size (height less than one-sixth of the spine width) or absent. There are at present (2010) three species in this genera namely O. carinata (Steindachner, 1879), O. acutirostris Miranda Ribeiro, 1951 and O. wrightiana Eigenmann & Eigenmann, 1889 which is the type species. Aquarium Care: Same care as for Hypotopoma with long leaved plants or bamboo stalks for them to rest on. Diet: Algae, vegetables, tablet foods and small live and frozen foods. Breeding: This species has been bred (Evers, H.-G. & I.Seidel 2005) but the fry were very difficult to raise.

None

Oxyropsis wrightii, Hypoptopoma wrightianum

Loricariidae

South America: Middle and upper Amazon River basin. Type locality: Lago Hyanuary, Brazil.

5.5cm. (2¼ins)

26-29°c (79-85°f.)

6.0-7.5.

Evers, H.-G. & I.Seidel: Mergus, Baensch Catfish Atlas Volume 1, 1st English edn., 2005. Pp.944.
Ferraris, C.J. Jr., 2007. Checklist of catfishes, recent and fossil (Osteichthyes: Siluriformes), and catalogue of siluriform primary types. Zootaxa 1418:1-628.
Aquino, A.E. and S.A. Schaefer 2002 Revision of Oxyropsis Eigenmann and Eigenmann, 1889 (Siluriformes, Loricariidae). Copeia (2):374-390.