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Description: Spectracanthicus is diagnosed from all other Ancistrini, except Baryancistrus niveatus and Baryancistrus beggini, and Parancistrus by the presence of an expansion of dorsal-fin membrane connecting the last dorsal-fin ray of to the adipose-fin spine (vs. dorsal fin not expanded and connected to adipose). Spectracanthicus is distinguished from Baryancistrus by having up to 25 teeth on premaxilla (vs. more than 25); and from Parancistrus by having small gill opening, reaching up to 1/3of cleithrum length (vs. large gill opening, reaching nearly 1/2of cleithrum length). Spectracanthicus zuanoni can be diagnosed from all other congeners by its colour pattern consisting of large, white spots (vs. small yellowish dots in S. murinus, S. punctatissimus, and S. tocantinensis, and dark grey lacking dots in S. immaculatus). It also differs from congeners, except S. murinus, by the larger orbital diameter (up to 29.2% of HL.). Habitat: Lives in its natural habitat with Baryancistrus sp. (L019) with the latter having a similar colour pattern. Spectracanthicus zuanoni is a moderate reophilic species that is found in rock-bottom areas subjected to backwater and strong currents. Specimens were found individually or in groups of three, under shelter boulders (adults) and spaces beneath rocks (juveniles), up to 2m deep. The juveniles share the shelters with other loricariids such as Ancistrus sp., A. ranunculus, Baryancistrus xanthellus, Spectracanthicus punctatissimus, Hopliancistrus tricornis, Parancistrus nudiventris, Peckoltia vittata, and Pseudancistrus aff. barbatus. Aquarium Care: Should be no problem in the aquarium but would need a strong current and oxygen rich water due to the high temperatures enjoyed by this genus. Sexual Differences: Males have a longer and broader head and a larger growth of odontodes behind the gill covers and on the pectoral fin spines. Diet: Spectracanthicus zuanoni is a nocturnal species that feeds on algae and other food items off periphyton by grazing over rock bottom. According to Zuanon (1999) and Rapp Py-Daniel & Zuanon (2005). Omnivore. A varied diet with both vegetable and other foods such as tablet and frozen. Remarks: As of 2019, L354 is now believed to be this species and also the genus of Oligancistrus is now a synonym of Spectracanthicus.

L020, L354, Grey-spotted sail-fin pleco

None

Loricariidae

Brazil: Lower courses of the Rio Xingu.

12.0cm. (4¾ins)

26-30°c (79-87°f)

5.5-7.0.

Chamon, C.C. and L.H. Rapp Py-Daniel, 2014. Taxonomic revision of Spectracanthicus Nijssen & Isbrücker (Loricariidae: Hypostominae: Ancistrini), with description of three new species. Neotrop. Ichthyol. 12(1):1-25.
Daniel Konn-Vetterlein Pers. comm. 2019.
Seidel, I. 2008. Back to Nature guide to L-catfishes, Ettlingen, Germany 208 p.