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Hop to next section All Fishes Data Sheet
Scientific Name Megalancistrus parananus  (Peters, 1881)
Common Names L113, Gigantsugemalle (Denmark)
Gigas-Ancistrus (Germany)
Type Locality Río Paraná at La Paz, Entre-Ríos, Argentina.
Synonym(s) Chaetostomus aculeatus, Chaetostomus gigas, Megalancistrus aculeatus, Megalancistrus gigas, Pterygoplichthys parananus
Pronunciation mega lan SISS truss - pah rah nah nuss
Etymology Greek, megas, megalos = great + Greek, agkistron = hook, in this case meaning "big Ancistrus". Named for the Rio Paraná, this species type locality.
Hop to next section Species Information
Size 588mm or 23.1" 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.

Many sources suggest that L113 is also L234. Both are spotted. L113 is from the Rio Paraná and has a darker base colouration and, at least in adulthood, a lower dorsal fin. L234 is closely related but from the Rio São Francisco and has a lighter base colouration and, at least in adulthood, a taller dorsal fin. This confusion stems from the original L234 (DATZ, 1996) article which shows the Rio São Francisco fish but incorrectly states it came from the Rio Paraná. Possibly collection data was mixed up or commercially sensitive and so was not reported accurately.
General Remarks L113 DATZ 10/1992 pp619-620 L234 DATZ 11/1996 p685.
Hop to next section Habitat Information
Distribution South America: Paraguay, Paraná and Uruguay River basins.
La Plata, Paraná (click on these areas to find other species found there)
La Plata, Paraná, Paraguay (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 Unreported.
Breeding Reports There is no breeding report.
Hop to next section Further Information
Reference Sitzungsberichte der Gesellschaft Naturforschender Freunde zu Berlin 1881 (no. 2) (for 15 Feb. 1881), pp 17.
Registered Keepers There is no registered keeper.
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There are 7 records of this fish being seen, view them all.
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Last Update 2022 Jan 14 12:54 (species record created: 2001 May 05 00:00)