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Paralithoxus stocki (Nijssen & Isbrücker, 1990)

Image contributors to this species:

Raphael Covain (2)

ScotCat Sources:

Other Sources:

Relevant Information:

Description: The genera Paralithoxus has been reserected in a new paper (2018) by Lujan et al. Paralithoxus can be diagnosed from other members of Lithoxini by having at most low hemispherical papillae around the oral disc margin (vs. digitate papillae in Exastilithoxus), 14 (rarely 13) branched caudal-fin rays (vs. 12 in Avalithoxus), five branched anal-fin rays (vs. four in Avalithoxus and Lithoxus), seven to nine interdorsal plates (vs. five in Avalithoxus and Lithoxus), and five rows of plates on the caudal peduncle (vs. three in Avalithoxus and Lithoxus). P. stocki is a small to moderately long (little over 70 mm in SL) species of the subtribe Lithoxina, tribe Pseudacanthicini of the loricariid subfamily Ancistrinae. Maxillary barbels well-developed, often in an oblique, anteriorly directed position. Margin of snout, including area between orbital rim and evertible interopercular odontodes, covered with close-set, small, isolated polygonal scutelets. Anal papilla distinct. Body and head depressed. Lower lip broad, three-quarters-circular, with minute papillae along outer margin. Premaxillary teethfew, about twice size of mandibular teeth, those along symphysis of jaw distinctly thicker than others. Evertible interopercular odontodes well-developed. Aquarium Care: Quite a demanding genera which need pure, oxygen rich water. They need plenty of hiding places and the aquarium to be very strongly filtered. Diet: Insectivores that feed in their natural habitat from insect larvae on rocks. Feed Frozen mosquito larvae, brine shrimp and Daphnia. They will also except tablet foods. Etymology: The specific name stocki: In honour of Dutch carcinologist Jan H. Stock (1931–1997), “on occasion of his retirement, with remembrance of and gratitude for his energetic and enthusiastic activities as a teacher and colleague”. Remarks: Still found on some online sources as Lithoxus stocki.

Common Name:

None

Synonyms:

Lithoxus stocki

Family:

Loricariidae

Distribution:

South America: Maroni and Mana River basins in French Guiana. Type locality: Marouini River, downstream of village Epoia, French Guiana.

Size:

6.5cm. (3ins)

Temp:

23-27°c (73-81°f)

p.H.

6.0-7.5.

IUCN Red List

Paralithoxus stocki is assessed as Least Concern. It is one of the more common species of the genus. It is found in nearly all rivers in French Guiana (although the subpopulations east of the Mana River should be examined more closely) as well as the Maroni on the French Guiana/Suriname border. There is extensive gold mining within the range of the species and the Nassau Plateau of Suriname has been explored for bauxite mining and Lithoxus lithoides (which has a similar habitat) has been affected by mining in the Potaro River, so studies on mining should examine this species. Much of the range in French Guiana is in the Guiana Amazonian Park, which offers strong protection to the species (IUCN 2023).

Reference:

Armbruster, J.W. 2023. Paralithoxus stocki. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2023.
Ferraris, C.J. Jr., 2007. Checklist of catfishes, recent and fossil (Osteichthyes: Siluriformes), and catalogue of siluriform primary types. Zootaxa 1418:1-628.
Lujan, NK; Armbruster, JW & Lovejoy, NR, 2018 "Multilocus phylogeny, diagnosis and generic revision of the Guiana Shield endemic suckermouth armored catfish tribe Lithoxini (Loricariidae: Hypostominae)" (Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, Vol. 20).
Nijssen, H. & Isbriicker, I.J.H., 1990 "Lithoxus stocki, a species new to science of ancistrin loricariid catfish from the Maroni River drainage, with a comparison of the primary type specimens of the six species of Lithoxus (syn.: Paralithoxus ) (Pisces, Siluriformes, Loricariidae)" (Bijdragen tol de Dierkunde, 60 (3/4) 327-333).
Seidel, I. 2008. Back to Nature guide to L-catfishes, Ettlingen, Germany 208 p.
The ETYFish Project Fish Name Etymology Database © Christopher Scharpf.
www.suedamerikafans.de

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

Paralithoxus stocki

Paralithoxus stocki
Dorsal view

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