''Peckoltia'' is a
genus
Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...
of small
South American armored suckermouth catfishes. Many of these fish are popular
aquarium
An aquarium (plural: ''aquariums'' or ''aquaria'') is a vivarium of any size having at least one transparent side in which aquatic plants or animals are kept and displayed. Fishkeepers use aquaria to keep fish, invertebrates, amphibians, aq ...
fish.
Taxonomy
''Peckoltia'' is a
basal genus within the tribe
Ancistrini of the subfamily
Hypostominae
The Hypostominae are a subfamily of catfishes of the family Loricariidae. Most members are restricted to tropical and subtropical South America, but there are also several species (in genera ''Ancistrus'', '' Chaetostoma'', ''Lasiancistrus'', '' ...
.
[ This genus is ]paraphyletic
In taxonomy (general), taxonomy, a group is paraphyletic if it consists of the group's most recent common ancestor, last common ancestor and most of its descendants, excluding a few Monophyly, monophyletic subgroups. The group is said to be pa ...
. At this point, many undescribed species remain. Many of the possibly undescribed species have an identification through the L-number
The L-number system is a semi-scientific classification system of catfish based on photographs of shipments of tropical catfish of the family Loricariidae published by the German aquarium magazine DATZ (Die Aquarien- und Terrarienzeitschrift (The ...
system.
''Peckoltia'' species can be distinguished from most other in the genera in the tribe Ancistrini by having a lateral ridge on the opercle that usually has no odontodes and the teeth on their upper jaw ( dentary) forming an angle under 90 degrees; while some genera also have an angled dentary, ''Peckoltia'' species lack synapomorphies
In phylogenetics, an apomorphy (or derived trait) is a novel character or character state that has evolved from its ancestral form (or plesiomorphy). A synapomorphy is an apomorphy shared by two or more taxa and is therefore hypothesized to have ...
of these genera. This genus and the closely related ''Hemiancistrus
''Hemiancistrus'' is a genus of suckermouth armored catfishes. These species are native to South America. The taxonomy of this genus is complex and unclear, and major work has to be done. Many of these fish are popular aquarium fish.
Taxonomy
' ...
'' may be synonymous
A synonym is a word, morpheme, or phrase that means exactly or nearly the same as another word, morpheme, or phrase in a given language. For example, in the English language, the words ''begin'', ''start'', ''commence'', and ''initiate'' are all ...
, as neither genus is supported by synapomorphies. Generally, ''Peckoltia'' are considered to be those that have dorsal saddles and bands in the fins, while ''Heminancistrus'' have spots and uniform coloration.[ This genus is also similar to '']Hypancistrus
''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' ...
'' and ''Panaque
The genus ''Panaque'' contains a small number of small to medium-sized South American suckermouth armoured catfishes that are notable for being among the very few vertebrates that feed extensively on wood. In addition, algae and aufwuchs are a ...
'' except for differences in teeth. Teeth on both jaws are the same size as opposed to different sizes, which is different from ''Hypancistrus'' where the upper jaw teeth are larger. Also, the teeth are villiform (brush-shaped) rather than spoon-shaped, in contrast to the ''Panaque''.[
The classification of some of the species in this genus has been confused. ''P. yaravi'' has been moved to '']Neblinichthys
''Neblinichthys'' is a small genus of suckermouth armored catfishes native to South America.
Species
There are currently six recognized species in this genus:
* '' Neblinichthys brevibracchium'' Taphorn, Armbruster, López-Fernández & C. R. ...
''.[ ''P. sabaji'' was arbitrarily placed in this genus (as opposed to ''Hemiancistrus''), but may even represent its own genus; later, it has been placed in ''Hemiancistrus'' but (Armbruster ''et al.'' 2015) placed the species in the genus ''Peckoltia''.] ''Peckoltia bachi'' is placed in the genus
Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...
''Peckoltichthys
''Peckoltichthys bachi'' is a species of armored catfish and the only member of its genus. This species is found throughout the upper Amazon River and its tributaries in Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. The species reaches 14 cm (5.5 inch ...
'' and ''Peckoltia snethlageae'' and ''Peckoltia feldbergae'' are placed in the genus ''Ancistomus
''Ancistomus'' is a genus of suckermouth armored catfishes found in shallow waters in rapidly flowing rivers in the southeastern Amazon basin in Brazil.
Species
There are currently 5 recognized species in this genus:
* '' Ancistomus feldberga ...
''.[
]
Species
There are currently 21 recognized species in this genus:
* ''Peckoltia braueri
''Peckoltia braueri'' is a species of catfish in the family Loricariidae. It is native to South America, where it occurs in the basins of the Rio Negro and the Branco River. It is typically found among large boulders in fast-moving riffles
...
'' ( C. H. Eigenmann, 1912) (Worm-line peckoltia)
* ''Peckoltia brevis
''Peckoltia brevis'' is a small species of ''Peckoltia'' belonging to the catfish family Loricariidae. ''Peckoltia brevis'' possesses the L-number L205.
Distribution
''Peckoltia brevis'' is found in the middle and upper Amazon within the Purus ...
'' ( La Monte, 1935)
* ''Peckoltia caenosa
''Peckoltia caenosa'' is a species of catfish in the family Loricariidae. It is native to South America, where it occurs in streams in the llanos of Venezuela that are part of the Orinoco drainage basin. The streams that it inhabits are typical ...
'' Armbruster, 2008
* ''Peckoltia capitulata
''Peckoltia capitulata'' is a species of catfish in the family Loricariidae. It is native to South America, where it occurs in the Approuague River in French Guiana. It was initially collected from an area of the river with a swift, strong curren ...
'' Fisch-Muller & Covain, 2012
* '' Peckoltia cavatica'' Armbruster & Werneke, 2005
* '' Peckoltia compta'' R. R. de Oliveira, Zuanon, Rapp Py-Daniel & M. S. Rocha, 2010
* '' Peckoltia ephippiata'' Armbruster, Werneke & M. Tan, 2015
* '' Peckoltia furcata'' ( Fowler, 1940)
* '' Peckoltia greedoi'' Armbruster, Werneke & M. Tan, 2015 [
* '' Peckoltia lineola'' Armbruster, 2008
* '' Peckoltia lujani'' Armbruster, Werneke & M. Tan, 2015 ][
* '' Peckoltia multispinis'' ( Holly, 1929) (Bristle-mouth catfish)
* '' Peckoltia oligospila'' ( Günther, 1864)
* '']Peckoltia otali
''Peckoltia otali'' is a species of catfish in the family Loricariidae. It is native to South America, where it occurs in the upper Maroni basin in French Guiana and Suriname. It is typically found in clear, shallow rapids with a substrate of m ...
'' Fisch-Muller & Covain, 2012 [
* '']Peckoltia pankimpuju
''Peckoltia pankimpuju'' is a species of armored catfish from the family Loricariidae, native to the Marañón River in the upper Amazon basin of Peru. It is commonly called the coal pleco, Peruvian lyre-tail, and L350 under the L-number, L-numbe ...
'' ( Lujan & Chamon, 2008) [
* '' Peckoltia relictum'' ( Lujan, Armbruster & Rengifo, 2011) ][
* '' Peckoltia sabaji'' Armbruster, 2003
* '' Peckoltia simulata'' Fisch-Muller & Covain, 2012 ][
* '' Peckoltia vermiculata'' (]Steindachner
Franz Steindachner (11 November 1834 in Vienna – 10 December 1919 in Vienna) was an Austrian zoologist, ichthyologist, and herpetologist. He published over 200 papers on fishes and over 50 papers on reptiles and amphibians. Steindachner describ ...
, 1908)
* ''Peckoltia vittata
''Peckoltia vittata'' is a species of catfish belonging to the subfamily Hypostominae of the family Loricariidae.
Description
''P. vittata'' reaches a maximum total length of 15 cm (5.9 inches). The distinctive striped patterning sported by ...
'' (Steindachner
Franz Steindachner (11 November 1834 in Vienna – 10 December 1919 in Vienna) was an Austrian zoologist, ichthyologist, and herpetologist. He published over 200 papers on fishes and over 50 papers on reptiles and amphibians. Steindachner describ ...
, 1881)
* '' Peckoltia wernekei'' Armbruster & Lujan, 2016 [Armbruster, J.W. & Lujan, N.K. (2016): A new species of ''Peckoltia'' from the Upper Orinoco (Siluriformes, Loricariidae). ''ZooKeys, 569: 105-121.'']
Distribution and habitat
''Peckoltia'' inhabit freshwater
Fresh water or freshwater is any naturally occurring liquid or frozen water containing low concentrations of dissolved salts and other total dissolved solids. Although the term specifically excludes seawater and brackish water, it does include ...
habitats in the Amazon
Amazon most often refers to:
* Amazons, a tribe of female warriors in Greek mythology
* Amazon rainforest, a rainforest covering most of the Amazon basin
* Amazon River, in South America
* Amazon (company), an American multinational technology c ...
basin, upper Orinoco
The Orinoco () is one of the longest rivers in South America at . Its drainage basin, sometimes known as the Orinoquia, covers , with 76.3 percent of it in Venezuela and the remainder in Colombia. It is the fourth largest river in the wor ...
, upper Essequibo River, and also possibly the Maroni River
The Maroni or Marowijne (french: link=no, Maroni, nl, Marowijne, Sranan Tongo: ''Marwina-Liba'') is a river in South America that forms the border between French Guiana and Suriname.
Course
The Maroni runs through the Guianan moist forest ...
, as well as coastal drainages north of the Amazon to French Guiana
French Guiana ( or ; french: link=no, Guyane ; gcr, label=French Guianese Creole, Lagwiyann ) is an overseas departments and regions of France, overseas department/region and single territorial collectivity of France on the northern Atlantic ...
.[ Three species, ''P. braueri'', ''P. cavatica'' and ''P. sabaji'' are found in the ]Guiana Shield
The Guiana Shield (french: Plateau des Guyanes, Bouclier guyanais; nl, Hoogland van Guyana, Guianaschild; pt, Planalto das Guianas, Escudo das Guianas; es, Escudo guayanés) is one of the three cratons of the South American Plate. It is a ...
.[
''Peckoltia'' live in shallow, rocky riffles and in quieter water where they hide inside cavities in submerged logs.]
Appearance and anatomy
''Peckoltia'' are members of the family Loricariidae, the armored suckermouth catfishes. As such, they have armor plating on their body instead of scales
Scale or scales may refer to:
Mathematics
* Scale (descriptive set theory), an object defined on a set of points
* Scale (ratio), the ratio of a linear dimension of a model to the corresponding dimension of the original
* Scale factor, a number w ...
. Also, they have a suckermouth which they use to cling to rocks in their habitat. They have the characteristic Loricariid omega iris
The Loricariidae is the largest family of catfish (order Siluriformes), with 92 genera and just over 680 species. Loricariids originate from freshwater habitats of Costa Rica, Panama, and tropical and subtropical South America. These fish are ...
as well. Like many other catfish, ''Peckoltia'' have strong pectoral and dorsal fin spines that can be locked outwards as a defense.
''Peckoltia'' have unmodified teeth and the teeth on their upper jaw form an angle under 90 degrees.[ Most male ''Peckoltia'' have hypertrophied odontodes on their body during the breeding season.][
The biggest difference between all the ''Peckoltia'' species is coloration.] They usually have a saddle-shaped marking on their back.[ However, ''P. caenosa'' are mottled.]
Four species, ''P. braueri'', ''P. caenosa'', ''P. cavatica'' and ''P. vittata'', lack spots on their head while the rest have them. ''P. braueri'' and P. ''cavatica'' have orange bands in the dorsal and caudal fins and have the bones and plates of the head and nape outlined in black; in ''P. caenosa'' and ''P. vittata'', there are no orange bands and head plates and bones are not outlined. ''P. caenosa'' has dark vermiculations on the head and abdomen. ''P. vittata'' has saddles or blotches on the head and faint dark spots on the abdomen. ''P. lineola'' and ''P. vermiculata'' have spots on their head that combine to form vermiculations. In ''P. lineola'' the spots form vermiculations that are wider than its pupils, while in ''P. vermiculata'' the spots form vermiculations narrower than its pupils; also, the vermiculations radiate from a central point on the head in ''P. vermiculata'', while there is no such pattern in ''P. lineola''.
In the aquarium
True ''Peckoltia'' species are fairly rarely exported for the pet trade; species called ''Peckoltia'' may actually be ''Panaque'' or ''Hypancistrus'' species. ''Peckoltia'' species are popular aquarium fish as they are small and attractive. They are shy and will spend much of the day hiding.
In 2013, aquarists reported breeding ''P. braueri'' in captivity for the first time.
References
{{Taxonbar, from=Q1766755
Ancistrini
Fish of South America
Catfish genera
Taxa named by Alípio de Miranda-Ribeiro
Freshwater fish genera