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Proloricaria prolixa (Isbrücker & Nijssen, 1978)

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Description: Similar to Proloricaria lentiginosa from the same location. Both species differ in colouration particularly on the markings to the head and dorsum. P. lentiginosa has a more intense pigmentation to the head and dorsum which is covered by blotches and dots. Aquarium Care: Can be a difficult species to keep as they get quite large and need cool temperatures and a strong current. Diet: Herbivore. Feeds on periphyton growing on the rocky bottom of the river. Etymology: The specific name prolixa: Latin for long, extended or drawn out, referring to its “long and flat-robust body shape”.

Common Name:

Giant Whiptail

Synonyms:

Loricaria prolixa

Family:

Loricariidae

Distribution:

South America: Brazil, Upper Paraná River drainage, La Plata basin. Type locality: Brazil, Est. São Paulo, Rio Piracicaba through River Tietê, Rio Paraná system.

Size:

35.0cm. (14ins)

Temp:

16-22°c (59-71°f)

p.H.

6.5-7.2.

IUCN Red List

Proloricaria prolixa is a species widely distributed in the upper Paraná basin, occurring in the channels of medium and large rivers. Collection data suggest that it is one of the most abundant species in the Paranapanema and Grande river basins. Although no significant direct threats have been identified, dams may affect subpopulations by transforming lotic environments into lentic ones. Proloricaria prolixa has been listed in the Least concern (LC) category (IUCN 2022).

Reference:

Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation (ICMBio). 2022. Proloricaria prolixa. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2022.
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.
Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors. 2011. FishBase. World Wide Web electronic publication. www.fishbase.org, version.
The ETYFish Project Fish Name Etymology Database © Christopher Scharpf.

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

Proloricaria prolixa

Proloricaria prolixa
Head view

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