''Loricaria spinulifera''
is a
species of
catfish in the family
Loricariidae. It is native to
South America, where it occurs in the
Rio Negro basin in
Brazil, including the
Branco River
The Branco River ( pt, Rio Branco; Engl: ''White River'') is the principal affluent of the Rio Negro from the north.
Basin
The river drains the Guayanan Highlands moist forests ecoregion.
It is enriched by many streams from the Tepui highlands w ...
and the
Jauaperi River. It is typically seen in deep channels of
blackwater rivers, where it is usually found at depths of 1.5 to 28 m (5 to 92 ft) and distances of 10 to 750 m (33 to 2461 ft) from the shoreline. The environments in which the species occurs are characterized by substrates composed of sand, mud, and organic debris. Individuals of the species collected from deeper water tend to have smaller eyes and less prominent patterning than those collected from shallower areas. An analysis of the stomach contents of a single individual found evidence of feeding on aquatic
insect larvae
A larva (; plural larvae ) is a distinct juvenile form many animals undergo before metamorphosis into adults. Animals with indirect development such as insects, amphibians, or cnidarians typically have a larval phase of their life cycle.
The ...
, as well as sand and
detritus
In biology, detritus () is dead particulate organic material, as distinguished from dissolved organic material. Detritus typically includes the bodies or fragments of bodies of dead organisms, and fecal material. Detritus typically hosts commun ...
. The species reaches 13.8 cm (5.4 inches) in
standard length
Fish measurement is the measuring of individual fish and various parts of their anatomies. These data are used in many areas of ichthyology, including taxonomy and fisheries biology.
Overall length
* Standard length (SL) is the length of a fish m ...
and is believed to be a facultative air-breather. Its specific epithet, ''spinulifera'', is derived from
Latin and means "spine-bearing", referring to the conspicuous thorn-like
odontodes found on its head.
References
Loricariidae
Fish described in 2008
Catfish of South America
Fish of Brazil
{{Loricariidae-stub