All FishesLoricariidaeHypostominaePanaque  |  | 

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Scientific Name Panaque armbrusteri  Lujan, Hidalgo & Stewart, 2010
Common Names L027, Tapajos Royal Pleco
LDA077, Gulstribet Kongesugemalle (Denmark), Thunder Royal Pleco
Type Locality Tapajós River drainage, Teles Pires River, near the highway MT-416 ferry, 9°27'07"S, 56°30'46"W, Mato Grosso State, Brazil.
Pronunciation pan ah KAY. - arm brew sterr eye.
Etymology The generic epithet "panaque" is a Venezuelan common name for this fish. The specific epithet honours Jonathan W. Armbruster, ichthyologist, Associate Professor, and Curator of Fishes at the Auburn University Museum Fish Collection.
Hop to next section Species Information
Size 400mm or 15.7" SL. Find near, nearer or same sized spp.
Identification The genus Panaque is identified by the teeth, which are spoon-shaped. This means that the teeth are noticeably wider at the tip than at the base. Other loricariidae have teeth that are similar width all the way from one end to the other. A second distinguishing feature is the lack of a buccal papilla, which is a "flap of skin" on the inside of the mouth. See pictures in this PDF on Pterygoplichthys.

The base colouration of this fish is a brownish black with beige stripes. The eye colour is also beige. Young fish have a 1/3 clear stripe in their black/brown caudal fins that do not have any posterior edge colour. Adult fish (over 172mm SL) have teeth angles greater than 100°. Caudal fin is truncate rather than forked or lunate.
Sexing Males have heavy odontal growth on pectoral fin and long interopercular spines.
General Remarks The common name Thunder Royal Pleco comes from the English translation of a Japanese general term which refers to both lightning, the flash of light seen, as well as thunder, the sound it makes. It is reference to the lightening-like light coloured horizontal stripes seen especially in larger individuals.
Hop to next section Habitat Information
Distribution South America: Brazil: Rio Tapajos river basin
Amazon, Lower Amazon, Tapajós (click on these areas to find other species found there)
Amazon, Lower Amazon, Tapajós, Upper Tapajós, Teles Pires (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 2018.
Temperature 23.0-27.0°C or 73.4-80.6°F (Show species within this range)
Hop to next section Husbandry Information
Feeding All Panaque appear to feed on wood, so wood should be present in the tank. They also take prepared algae wafers and fresh vegetables (zucchini, cucumber, peas, green beans) and tubers (potato, yams and similar). User data.
Furniture Natural habitat is among fallen trees and wood-tangles.
Compatibility Generally peaceful, but may defend their territory against conspecifics.
Breeding Unreported.
Breeding Reports There is no breeding report.
Hop to next section Further Information
Reference Copeia 2010 (no. 4), pp 677, Figs. 1-2, 4-5.
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 13 12:50 (species record created: 2004 Jul 11 00:00)