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Nathan Lujan (3)

Description: Dorsal spines (total): 2; Dorsal soft rays (total): 8 - 9; Anal soft rays: 6. Can be diagnosed from all other members of the Chaetostoma group by having plates on the tip of the snout (except for a central region at the extreme anterior edge), but lacking plates laterally on the head. Habitat: Transancistrus santarosensis was originally described from the lower Santa Rosa River drainage on the Pacific slope of southern Ecuador, but reports also exist from the Caluma, Cochancay, Tenguel, and Jubones River drainages. Extent of Occurrence (EOO) is estimated to be 32,211 km2. Diet: This is a benthonic fish that inhabit in a substrates of sand and/or small rocks. Their diet is based on detritus and insects. Etymology: The genus name Transancistrus: trans (L.), over or beyond, referring to distribution of genus across rivers draining Pacific slope of the Andes Mountains in Ecuador; ancistrus, a root name for many hypostomine genera that have clusters of enlarged evertible cheek odontodes, from ágkistron (Gr. äyklotpov) fishhook or hook of a spindle.The specific name santarosensis: Named for its type locality, the Rio Santa Rosa. Remarks: Population size and population trend are unknown, but this species is known from relatively few collections. Basin-wide threats in the Guayas and Santa Rosa river drainages include deforestation, agricultural expansion, mining activities, urban expansion, and associated pollutants. Existing threats are contributing to inferred continuous declines in habitat quality. However, the direct impact of existing threats have not been evaluated in detail. Given a relatively broad range and no indication of major range-wide declines in population status, T. santarosensis is assessed as Least Concern. (IUCN 2021).

None

Cordylancistrus santarosensis

Loricariidae

South America: Known only from the type locality, the Río Santa Rosa (Gulf of Guayaquil drainage) near the southern coast of Ecuador.

8.0cm. (3¼ins)

20-25°c (67-77°f.)

6.0-7.5.