AquaticRepublic.com - Pterygoplichthys chrysostiktos (Loricariidae) All Fishes

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Dorsal view

All Fishes Data Sheet
Scientific Name	**Pterygoplichthys chrysostiktos** (Birindelli, Zanata & Lima, 2007)
Common Name
Type Locality	Iaçu, rio Paraguaçu, Fazenda Santo Antonio at 10 kilometers from Vila São Vicente, 12°30'54.1''S, 39°22'53.9''W, Bahia, Brazil, elevation 134 meters.
Synonym(s)	Hypostomus chrysostiktos
Pronunciation	terry gop LICK thees
Etymology	Greek, pterygion, diminutive of pteryx = wing, fin + Greek, hoplon = weapon + Greek, ichthys = fish. The specific epithet chrysostiktos from the greek chrysos, after gold, and stiktus, after spotted, in allusion to the bright yellow spots present in living specimens.
Species Information
Size	260mm or 10.2" SL. Find near, nearer or same sized spp.
Identification	Pterygoplichthys can be identified by the number of rays in the dorsal fin. Ten or more dorsal rays (usually more than 10) indicates that it's a Pterygoplichthys. Most other plecos have 8 or fewer rays (in particular the larger Hypostomus species that are most likely to be confused with Pterygoplichthys). This species was originally classified as a species within Hypostomus , although as such it was unusual in the respect that it has 10-11 dorsal rays. For further ID details, see the original description linked in the "Reference" section.
Sexing	Comparison of the genital papilla in mature fish shows the differences in the sexes to the trained eye. In males this is a small yet thick stump which noticeably protrudes from the fish's undercarriage. In females it is less obvious and is recessed or lies flat with the body.
Habitat Information
Distribution	Only known from rio Paraguaçu basin, an independent coastal drainage in northeastern Brazil, where it is widespread Bahia State Rivers, Paraguaçu (click on these areas to find other species found there) Login to view the map.
IUCN Red List Category	Not Evaluated
Husbandry Information
Feeding	Omnivorous and a good algae eater, especially when young. User data.
Suggested Tankmates	Almost any medium sized community fish.
Breeding	Unreported.
Breeding Reports	There is no breeding report.
Further Information
Reference	Neotropical Ichthyology v. 5 (no. 3), pp 272, Figs. 1-2.
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 but a single record of this fish being seen, view it.
Forum BBCode

	Look up P. chrysostiktos on PlanetCatfish.com
	Look up P. chrysostiktos on Fishbase
	Look up P. chrysostiktos on Encyclopedia of Life
	Look up P. chrysostiktos on Global Biodiversity Information Facility
	LFS label creator ARN ref:1.4.6.2547
Last Update	2025 Jan 01 12:10 (species record created: 2010 Oct 07 19:50)