AquaticRepublic.com - Pterygoplichthys weberi (Loricariidae) All Fishes

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All Fishes Data Sheet
Scientific Name	**Pterygoplichthys weberi** Armbruster & Page, 2006
Common Name	Ranger Pleco
Type Locality	Laguna El Vaticano, Río Caqueta drainage, Florencia, Caquetá, Colombia.
Pronunciation	terry gop LICK thees
Etymology	Greek, pterygion, diminutive of pteryx = wing, fin + Greek, hoplon = weapon + Greek, ichthys = fish. Named for Claude Weber of the Muséum d?histoire naturelle, Geneva.
Species Information
Size	197mm or 7.8" 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). Most similar to P. punctatus. Easiest identification character is the spots on the abdomen, which are few on this species and many on P. punctatus. For further details, see reference.
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	South America: Rio Marañon, Rio Ucayali, Rio Caquetá and upper Rio Amazonas drainages of Colombia, Ecuador and Peru. Amazon, Upper Amazon (click on these areas to find other species found there) Amazon, Upper Amazon, Napo (click on these areas to find other species found there) Amazon, Middle Amazon (Solimoes), Japurá, Caquetá (click on these areas to find other species found there) Amazon, Upper Amazon, Marañón, Pastaza, Bobonaza (click on these areas to find other species found there) Login to view the map.
IUCN Red List Category	Least Concern , range map and more is available on the IUCN species page. Last assessed 2020.
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. 4 (no. 4), pp 406, Fig. 5.
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 are 7 records of this fish being seen, view them all.
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	Look up P. weberi on PlanetCatfish.com
	Look up P. weberi on Fishbase
	Look up P. weberi on Encyclopedia of Life
	Look up P. weberi on Global Biodiversity Information Facility
	LFS label creator ARN ref:1.4.6.860
Last Update	2025 Jan 01 12:10 (species record created: 2004 Jul 05 00:00)