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Scientific Name Pseudolithoxus anthrax  (Armbruster & Provenzano, 2000)
Common Names L235, Flyer Cat
Fliegerwels/Flyer-Cat (Germany), Hvidplettet Flyversugemalle (Denmark)
Type Locality Río Orinoco backwater behind sand beach about 0.5 hr upstream from Isla Temblador, 3°04'N, 66°28'W, Estado Amazonas, Venezuela.
Synonym(s) Lasiancistrus anthrax
Pronunciation sue doh lith ox uss. - anth racks
Etymology Greek, pseudes = false + Greek, lithos = stone + Greek, oxys = sharp. 
Hop to next section Species Information
Size 124mm or 4.9" SL. Find near, nearer or same sized spp.
Identification According to Armbruster, P. anthrax should have two dorsal spines and seven to eight branched dorsal rays; one anal spine and four branched anal rays; 24-26 lateral line plates; seven to eight dorsal plates; seven to eight adipose-caudal plates and 12-14 post-anal plates. The fish is usually dark grey or black with white spots.
Sexing When comparing adults, males have much longer cheek bristles.
Hop to next section Habitat Information
Distribution South America: Upper and lower Orinoco tributaries, Caura and Aro rivers in Venezuela.
Orinoco (click on these areas to find other species found there)
Orinoco, Lower Orinoco, Caura (click on these areas to find other species found there)
Orinoco, Lower Orinoco, Aro (click on these areas to find other species found there)

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IUCN Red List Category Near Threatened, range map and more is available on the IUCN species page. Last assessed 2019.
pH 6.2 - 7.0
Temperature 24.0-27.0°C or 75.2-80.6°F (Show species within this range)
Other Parameters Tricky to acclimatize unless close attention is given to providing good water quality with plenty of oxygenation.
Hop to next section Husbandry Information
Feeding Does well on commercial "algae" wafers but requires a meaty element to its diet (probably met by insect larvae in the wild). Newly imported specimens need such meaty food immediately to acclimatize properly. User data.
Furniture Plants are not necessary but are left unmolested if present. Prefers flat rock caves to all other forms of refuge.
Compatibility Some what territorial. Defends chosen cave structure from all other plecos; ignores larger fish. Should have adequate space. Can be kept in a community tank if this is taken into account.
Suggested Tankmates Best kept with other fish that like a good water current.
Breeding Unreported.
Breeding Reports There is no breeding report.
Hop to next section Further Information
Reference Ichthyological Exploration of Freshwaters v. 11 (no. 3), pp 243, Fig. 1.
Registered Keepers There is no registered keeper.
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There are 8 records of this fish being seen, view them all.
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Last Update 2022 Jan 19 10:56 (species record created: 2001 Jun 14 00:00)