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Scientific Name | Ancistrus maculatus (Steindachner, 1881) |
Common Name | |
Type Locality | Cudajas, Obidos, Rio Tajapoura, Rio Chagres, South America. |
Synonym(s) | Chaetostomus cirrhosus maculata |
Pronunciation | an SISS truss |
Etymology | The name Ancistrus is derived from the Greek word agkistron, meaning hook, in reference to the interopercular odontodes that are hooked. This specific epithet refers to its spots(maculatus=spots). |
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Size | 118mm or 4.6" SL. Find near, nearer or same sized spp. |
Identification | Mature males and sometimes females have soft tentacles (bushy fleshy growths) on the snout - this is unique to the genus Ancistrus. |
Sexing | Males develop soft tentacles on the head and while sometimes females also do, it is never to the grand extent of those found on that of the conspecific male. |
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Distribution | South America: Amazon River basin in Brazil. Amazon (click on these areas to find other species found there) Login to view the map. |
IUCN Red List Category | Data Deficient , range map and more is available on the IUCN species page. Last assessed 2020. |
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Feeding | Ancistrus should be fed mainly on vegetarian foods. Prepared foods include algae wafers and spirulina based sinking food. Vegetables such as courgette/zucchini, and (English) cucumber are an excellent addition to the diet, along with the odd, small amount of more meaty foods. User data. |
Compatibility | A good complement to most aquariums, they are not aggressive to other species. Males may fight over territory if kept in too small a tank. |
Suggested Tankmates | Appropriate with most community fish that aren't overly big or aggressive. |
Breeding | All Ancistrus species are cave-breeders, where the male looks after the eggs and young fry. |
Breeding Reports | There is no breeding report. |
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Reference | Denkschriften der Kaiserlichen Akademie der Wissenschaften in Wien, Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftliche Classe. v. 43, pp 123 [23]. |
Registered Keepers | There is no registered keeper. |
Wishlists | Love this species? Click the heart to add it to your wish list. There is no wish to keep this species. |
Spotters | Spotted this species somewhere? Click the binoculars! There is no record of this fish being seen. |
Forum BBCode | |
![]() | Look up A. maculatus on PlanetCatfish.com |
![]() | Look up A. maculatus on Fishbase |
![]() | Look up A. maculatus on Encyclopedia of Life |
Look up A. maculatus on Global Biodiversity Information Facility | |
LFS label creator ARN ref:1.4.4.2016 | |
Last Update | 2025 Jan 01 12:06 (species record created: 2008 May 31 04:24) |