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Scientific Name Sturisoma nigrirostrum  Fowler, 1940
Common Names Blacksnouted Whiptail
Nadelstreifen-Bartwels (Germany), Sortsnudet Størsugemalle (Denmark), Whiptail Pleco
Type Locality Contamana, Río Ucayali, Peru.
Synonym(s) Sturiosoma nigrirostrum
Etymology German, sturio = sturgeon, + Greek, soma = body. This specific epithet refers to its black (nigro=black) snout (rostrum=snout, nose).
Hop to next section Species Information
Size 220mm or 8.7" SL. Find near, nearer or same sized spp.
Identification Sturisoma and Sturisomatichthys can be difficult to tell apart. Older descriptions of the genera emphasized the length of the snout (elongated in Sturisoma), but this trait is not reliable across species. Recent analyses allow discrimination based on the abdominal plates, fin colors and lateral plates: Sturisoma has its central abdominal plates arranged in three clearly-defined longitudinal series; all fins (except sometimes pectoral fins) lack dark spots; and 20–21 lateral plates in median series. Sturisomatichthys has its central abdominal plates less organized, not arranged in clearly-defined longitudinal series; dark spots usually present on one or more of the dorsal-, pectoral-, pelvic, or anal-fins; and 15–18 lateral plates in median series. Furthermore, to date all Sturisoma are cis-Andean; most (but not all) Sturisomatichthys are trans-Andean.

The underside of the slightly elongate rostrum is dark brown in this species.
Hop to next section Habitat Information
Distribution South America: Ucayali River basin.
Amazon, Upper Amazon, Marañón, Ucayali (click on these areas to find other species found there)
Amazon, Upper Amazon, Yavari (click on these areas to find other species found there)

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IUCN Red List Category Least Concern, range map and more is available on the IUCN species page. Last assessed 2014.
pH 6.0 - 7.0
Temperature 24.0-28.0°C or 75.2-82.4°F (Show species within this range)
Other Parameters Natural habitat is soft water.
Hop to next section Husbandry Information
Feeding Eats biofilm from stones and driftwood in its natural habitat. It is thought that it may also scrape off some wood to aid digestion. User data.
Furniture Natural habitat has no plants other than floating plants like Pistia.
Breeding Unreported.
Breeding Reports There is no breeding report.
Hop to next section Further Information
Reference Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia v. 91 (for 1939), pp 249, Figs. 48-50.
Registered Keepers There is no registered keeper.
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Last Update 2023 Aug 12 05:39 (species record created: 2001 Apr 29 00:00)