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Scientific Name Lepthoplosternum altamazonicum  Reis, 1997
Common Names Ucayali Catfish
Ucayali-pansermalle (Denmark)
Type Locality Río Ucayali, Pucallpa, Peru.
Pronunciation lep THOP low STERN um
Etymology Lepthoplosternum: From the Greek leptos, meaning small and hoplosternum; in reference to the small size. Hoplosternum: From the Greek hoplon, meaning shield and sternum, meaning breast; in reference to the prominent coracoid bones on the breast. 
Hop to next section Species Information
Size 50mm or 2" SL. Find near, nearer or same sized spp.
Identification Lepthoplosternum species are the smallest of the Callichthyinae (maximum SL = 60.3 mm). They are distinguished by two unique traits: (1) a lower lip with a deep medial notch and a smaller lateral notch, forming two fleshy semi-triangular projections on each side of the midline, and a single unbranched ray preceding the branched rays on the anal fin.
Sexing Mature males of Callichthys, Dianema, Hoplosternum, Lepthoplosternum, and Megalechis have a thick adipose body on the ventral surface of the pectoral fin. In Dianema, Hoplosternum, Lepthoplosternum and Megalechis (but not in Callichthys), the coracoid bones are at least partially exposed and expanded medially. In Dianema, Hoplosternum and Megalechis, these medial expansions of the coracoids are especially developed, covering most of the skin between the pectoral fins and sometimes overlapping at the midline in fully developed mature males, however there does not appear to be a similar sexually dimorphic expansion of the coracoids in Lepthoplosternum.
Hop to next section Habitat Information
Distribution South America: Upper Amazon River drainage in Peru; range extended to the area of confluence of the Rio Solimões and Rio Japurá, Brazil.
Amazon, Upper Amazon, Marañón, Ucayali (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 2020.
Hop to next section Husbandry Information
Breeding Reports There is no breeding report.
Hop to next section Further Information
Reference Ichthyological Exploration of Freshwaters v. 7 (no. 4), pp 318, Fig. 318.
Registered Keepers There is no registered keeper.
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Last Update 2023 Aug 06 03:18 (species record created: 2018 Aug 22 13:37)