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Paralithoxus surinamensis (Boeseman, 1982)

Image contributors to this species:

Karsten Schönherr (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). Similar to P. pallidimaculatus from the same locations but the latter has more operecular odontodes and is lighter coloured. Does not possess an adipose fin. 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 surinamensis: –ensis, Latin suffix denoting place: upper Suriname River drainage, where type locality (Gran Rio) is situated. Remarks: Still found on some online sources as Lithoxus surinamensis.

Common Name:

None

Synonyms:

Lithoxus surinamensis

Family:

Loricariidae

Distribution:

South America: Gran Rio River basin in upper Suriname River drainage, Suriname. Type locality: near Awaradam, Gran Rio, upper Suriname River system, Surinam.

Size:

4.0cm. (1½ins)

Temp:

23-27°c (73-81°f)

p.H.

6.0-7.5.

IUCN Red List

Paralithoxus surinamensis is assessed as Least Concern due to a potentially large distribution as specimens identifiable to the species have been found in three drainage basins. However, the species has not been collected from the Suriname River (type locality) since the 1960s and it is unclear if the Coppename and Maroni subpopulations are conspecific. Brokopondo Reservoir may have flooded a significant portion of the distribution of the species, and it is necessary that the area be explored for the species and comparisons made to the Maroni and Coppename subpopulations (IUCN 2023).

Reference:

Armbruster, J.W. 2023. Paralithoxus surinamensis. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2023.
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).
Seidel, I. 2008. Back to Nature guide to L-catfishes, Ettlingen, Germany 208 p.
The ETYFish Project Fish Name Etymology Database © Christopher Scharpf.
www.l-welse.com

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

Paralithoxus surinamensis

Paralithoxus surinamensis
Awaradam falls, Gran Rio, Suriname

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