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''Pterygoplichthys multiradiatus'' is one of several
''P. multiradiatus'' has been introduced to
tropical
The tropics are the regions of Earth surrounding the Equator. They are defined in latitude by the Tropic of Cancer in the Northern Hemisphere at N and the Tropic of Capricorn in
the Southern Hemisphere at S. The tropics are also referred to ...
fish
Fish are aquatic, craniate, gill-bearing animals that lack limbs with digits. Included in this definition are the living hagfish, lampreys, and cartilaginous and bony fish as well as various extinct related groups. Approximately 95% of li ...
commonly known as Orinoco sailfin catfish, plecostomus
Plecostomus, pleco, or plec is the common name of several species of freshwater loricariid catfish commonly sold as aquarium fish.
These include:
*''Hypostomus plecostomus''
*''Hypostomus punctatus''
*''Pterygoplichthys multiradiatus''
*''Pteryg ...
(or plecos). It belongs to the armored catfish family (Loricariidae
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 not ...
). Named for its sail-like dorsal fin
A dorsal fin is a fin located on the back of most marine and freshwater vertebrates within various taxa of the animal kingdom. Many species of animals possessing dorsal fins are not particularly closely related to each other, though through conv ...
, the part of its scientific name ''multiradiatus'' means "many-rayed" and refers to the rays of the dorsal fin
A dorsal fin is a fin located on the back of most marine and freshwater vertebrates within various taxa of the animal kingdom. Many species of animals possessing dorsal fins are not particularly closely related to each other, though through conv ...
. ''P. multiradiatus'' is one of a number of species commonly referred to as the common pleco
''Hypostomus plecostomus'', also known as the suckermouth catfish or the common pleco, is a tropical freshwater fish belonging to the Loricariidae, armored catfish family (Loricariidae), named for the longitudinal rows of armour (anatomy), armor ...
by aquarist
An aquarist is a person who manages aquariums, either professionally or as a hobby. They typically care for aquatic animals, including fish and marine invertebrates. Some may care for aquatic mammals. Aquarists often work at public aquariums. They ...
s.
Other scientific names that were used (as synonyms) for ''P. multiradiatus'' include ''Hypostomus multiradiatus'', ''Ancistrus multiradiatus'', and ''Liposarcus multiradiatus''. ''P. multiradiatus'' is sometimes confused with ''Pterygoplichthys pardalis
''Pterygoplichthys pardalis'', the Amazon sailfin catfish, is a freshwater fish, freshwater tropical fish in the armored catfish family (Loricariidae). It is one of a number of species commonly referred to as the common pleco or "leopard pleco" b ...
'', which is a different species of pleco. ''P. multiradiatus'' goes by a number of common names. It can be called the "long-fin armored catfish" in Hawaii
Hawaii ( ; haw, Hawaii or ) is a state in the Western United States, located in the Pacific Ocean about from the U.S. mainland. It is the only U.S. state outside North America, the only state that is an archipelago, and the only stat ...
, "sailfin catfish", "sailfish catfish", "many-rayed (multiradiatus) pleco" or "radiated ptero" in the United States, 多輻翼甲鯰 in Mandarin Chinese
Mandarin (; ) is a group of Chinese (Sinitic) dialects that are natively spoken across most of northern and southwestern China. The group includes the Beijing dialect, the basis of the phonology of Standard Chinese, the official language of ...
.
''P. multiradiatus'' is mottled brown/black and inhabits freshwater streams and lakes and in weedy, mud-bottomed canals in its native habitat: the Orinoco River
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 ...
basin in Venezuela
Venezuela (; ), officially the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela ( es, link=no, República Bolivariana de Venezuela), is a country on the northern coast of South America, consisting of a continental landmass and many islands and islets in th ...
. Its geographic distribution is 10°N - 1°N, 68°W - 61°W. This tropical, nocturnal bottom-dweller likes warm water at the temperature range of 23–27 °C, pH range: 6.5–7.8, and dH range: 4–20.
''P. multiradiatus'' browses on substrate, mainly feeding on benthic
The benthic zone is the ecological region at the lowest level of a body of water such as an ocean, lake, or stream, including the sediment surface and some sub-surface layers. The name comes from ancient Greek, βένθος (bénthos), meaning "t ...
algae and aquatic weeds, but will also take worms, insect larvae and other bottom-dwelling invertebrates as food.
One of the large plecos (growing to a maximum of TL), this species likes solitude, is relatively peaceful as an aquarium fish and does well with cichlids
Cichlids are fish from the family (biology), family Cichlidae in the order Cichliformes. Cichlids were traditionally classed in a suborder, the Labroidei, along with the wrasses (Labridae), in the order Perciformes, but molecular studies have c ...
and other big fish, and should be kept in large tanks only and with plenty of rocks and driftwood in which to hide. Like many other plecos, it is very important in the aquarium trade.
Invasive introduction and range
''P. multiradiatus'' has been introduced to Taiwan
Taiwan, officially the Republic of China (ROC), is a country in East Asia, at the junction of the East and South China Seas in the northwestern Pacific Ocean, with the People's Republic of China (PRC) to the northwest, Japan to the nort ...
, Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico (; abbreviated PR; tnq, Boriken, ''Borinquen''), officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico ( es, link=yes, Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico, lit=Free Associated State of Puerto Rico), is a Caribbean island and Unincorporated ...
, Florida
Florida is a state located in the Southeastern region of the United States. Florida is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the northwest by Alabama, to the north by Georgia, to the east by the Bahamas and Atlantic Ocean, and to ...
, Hawaii
Hawaii ( ; haw, Hawaii or ) is a state in the Western United States, located in the Pacific Ocean about from the U.S. mainland. It is the only U.S. state outside North America, the only state that is an archipelago, and the only stat ...
, Texas
Texas (, ; Spanish language, Spanish: ''Texas'', ''Tejas'') is a state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States. At 268,596 square miles (695,662 km2), and with more than 29.1 million residents in 2 ...
, India
India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...
, and Mexico
Mexico (Spanish: México), officially the United Mexican States, is a country in the southern portion of North America. It is bordered to the north by the United States; to the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; to the southeast by Guatema ...
, most likely as the result of escapes or releases from aquarium fish farms. This species is firmly established in these and other locations, where it is regarded as a harmful invasive species
An invasive species otherwise known as an alien is an introduced organism that becomes overpopulated and harms its new environment. Although most introduced species are neutral or beneficial with respect to other species, invasive species ad ...
being relatively inedible to people and predators, causing damage to fishing gear
Fishing tackle is the equipment used by anglers when fishing. Almost any equipment or gear used in fishing can be called fishing tackle, examples being hooks, lines, baits/ lures, rods, reels, floats, sinkers/ feeders, nets, stringers/ k ...
, competing and harming against native species and disrupting environments by its burrowing activities. In this context its relative, ''Hypostomus plecostomus
''Hypostomus plecostomus'', also known as the suckermouth catfish or the common pleco, is a tropical freshwater fish belonging to the armored catfish family (Loricariidae), named for the longitudinal rows of armor-like scutes that cover the upp ...
'', has also been similarly implicated though it seems likely that in Asia, both or related species are implicated.
See also
*List of freshwater aquarium fish species
A vast number of aquatic species have successfully adapted to live in the freshwater aquarium. This list gives some examples of the most common species found in home aquariums.
Catfish
Characins and other characiformes
...
References
Other sources
* * {{Taxonbar, from=Q2705598 Catfish of South America Fish described in 1828 Fish of Venezuela Freshwater fish of Colombia Hypostominae