Hypancistrus
| Hypancistrus | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Hypancistrus zebra | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Siluriformes |
| Family: | Loricariidae |
| Subfamily: | Hypostominae |
| Genus: |
Hypancistrus Isbrücker & Nijssen, 1991 |
| Type species | |
|
Hypancistrus zebra Isbrücker & Nijssen, 1991 |
|
Hypancistrus is a genus of loricariid catfish originating from the Amazon basin in South America. Unlike many of the other Loricariids, however, some Hypancistrus species are more carnivorous and enjoy meat in their diet. Hypancistrus species are popular aquarium fish, including such popular fish as the zebra pleco and Queen Arabesque pleco.
The name Hypancistrus is derived from the Greek "hypo" meaning under and "agkistron" meaning hook.
This genus is a relatively recent one, described in 1991 with its type species H. zebra.H. inspector was the next species to be described in 2002. In 2007, four new species of Hypancistrus were described. However, there are still many more undescribed species. These undescribed species are often designated with L-numbers. It was believed that this genus isn't monophyletic, though this has since changed.
There are currently 8 recognized species in this genus:
H. zebra originates from the Xingu River.Hypancistrus are also known from the Orinoco River and the Rio Negro. The rest of the described species originate from Venezuela; the four new species alone originate from the northern Orinoco in southern Venezuela, near or in the Ventuari River. New species await to be described from regions such as Brazil and Guyana.
These fish are found in slow to moderately flowing water. They like to inhabit the bedrock and crevices within bedrock.
Hypancistrus, like other Loricariids, are armored catfish with a suckermouth. This suckermouth allows the fish to attach to objects. Their body is armored by scutes rather than covered in scales. These fish have strong pectoral and dorsal fin spines. The eye is specially developed with an omega iris. The body is flat on the ventral surface and naked (scaleless).
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