All FishesLoricariidaeHypostominaeMegalancistrus  |  | 

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Scientific Name Megalancistrus barrae  (Steindachner, 1910)
Common Names Black Spiny Ashiura Pleco
Azzura Pleco, Giant Ancistrus
Type Locality Rio São Francisco near Barra, Brazil.
Synonym(s) Ancistrus barrae
Pronunciation mega lan SISS truss
Etymology Greek, megas, megalos = great + Greek, agkistron = hook, in this case meaning "big Ancistrus". Named for the Rio São Francisco near Barra in Brazil, which is this species' type locality.
Hop to next section Species Information
Size 385mm or 15.2" SL. Find near, nearer or same sized spp.
Identification A colossal pleco worthy of the generic name. Can be differentiated from other large loricariids by the presence of evertible interopercular odontodes.

This species background colour is dark brown to black, those more commonly exported are black and often they are exported under the nomen nudem, "Megalancistrus etentaculatus".
Hop to next section Habitat Information
Distribution South America: São Francisco River basin, Brazil.
São Francisco (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.
Hop to next section Husbandry Information
Breeding Unreported.
Breeding Reports There is no breeding report.
Hop to next section Further Information
Reference Anzeiger der Kaiserlichen Akademie der Wissenschaften in Wien, Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftlichen Klasse v. 47 (no. 8) (for 10 Mar. 1910), pp 58.
Registered Keepers There is no registered keeper.
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Last Update 2020 Sep 28 01:45 (species record created: 2003 Apr 18 00:00)