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Leporacanthicus joselimai Isbrücker & Nijssen, 1989

Image contributors to this species:

Allan Sim (1) Robin Warne (1) Allan James (1) Vitor Hugo Quaresma (1) Johnny Jensen's Photographic Library (2) Haakon Haagensen (2) Mark Duffill (1)

ScotCat Sources:

Other Sources:

Relevant Information:

Description: The genus Leporacanthicus is characterised by the possession of having a small suckermouth with lip barbels on the top and pointed teeth. Leporacanthicus is readily identifiable from all other Ancistrini by the development of only two teeth in each premaxilla, the inner teeth being very long (all other Ancistrini have more than two teeth in the premaxilla), by having a well-raised supraoccipital crest (the supraoccipital in most Ancistrini is flat to slightly raised) and by having numerous long barbels above the upper jaws. It has been hypothesized that the enlarged teeth of the upper jaw are used to remove snails from their shells (Burgess 1994). The males have a more elongated body and a broader head and they also posses short odontodes on the edges of the snout which the females lack. Aquarium Care: This fish can be territorial with its own kind and so must have a big enough aquarium if more than one is kept. Regular water changes must be adhered to, and also having a powerful filter system that can deliver a high oxygen content. Hiding places are beneficial to this fish with bogwood or wood of some description and/or some rockwork. L. joselimai has been bred in the aquarium. Up to 150 eggs can be laid. The youngsters can be raised on Artemia nauplii and tablet foods. The white tips to the dorsal and caudal fins usually disappear with age. Diet: Not a true vegetarian so a wide variety of foods including algae, algae wafers, cucumber or courgette ( zucchini), prawns, shrimps and tablet food. Etymology: The specific name joselimai: In honour of Brazilian ichthyologist José Lima de Figueiredo (b. 1943), Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de São Paulo, who drew the first author’s attention to the “peculiar” (translation) genera now known as Leporacanthicus and Hopliancistrus.

Common Name:

Grey Leporacanthicus, Sultan pleco, L264

Synonyms:

None

Family:

Loricariidae

Distribution:

Brazil: Pará, Rio Tapajós (Pimental-Jacaréacanga). Type locality: Brasilien, Est. Pará, Maloquinha, perta de Itaituba, Rio Tapajós.

Size:

15.0-20.0cm. (6-8ins)

Temp:

26-30°c (79-87°f.)

p.H.

6.0-7.0.

IUCN Red List

Leporacanthicus joselimai is endemic to Brazil and occurs in the middle Tapajós River basin, in the state of Pará. The species is infrequent and not very abundant, associated with rocky areas and rapids. There is collection of specimens for the aquarium market, but this apparently does not represent a significant impact on the subpopulations of L. joselimai. The main threat to its subpopulations is the construction of hydroelectric power plants (HPPs) in the Tapajós River drainage basins (São Luiz do Tapajós and Jatobá HPPs). Considering the area of the stretches where the species has confirmed records, it has been inferred that approximately 42% will be impacted by the planned dams. Given the current Brazilian energy planning for the Amazon basin and the constructions already planned for the river basins where L. joselimai occurs, there will be a considerable loss of habitat, with a decrease in the area of occupancy. Thus, it is suspected that this would lead to a population reduction of between 30% and 50% in 15 years or three generational periods, categorizing Leporacanthicus joselimai as Vulnerable (VU) under criterion A3c. (IUCN 2022).

Reference:

Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation (ICMBio). 2022. Leporacanthicus joselimai. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2022.
Datz Special: All L-Numbers: Habitat, Care & Diet.
Seidel, I. 2008. Back to Nature guide to L-catfishes, Ettlingen, Germany 208 p.
The ETYFish Project Fish Name Etymology Database © Christopher Scharpf.

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

Leporacanthicus joselimai

Leporacanthicus joselimai

Leporacanthicus joselimai
Juvenile

Leporacanthicus joselimai

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