AquaticRepublic.com - Sturisoma monopelte (Loricariidae) All Fishes

All Fishes Data Sheet
Scientific Name	**Sturisoma monopelte** Fowler, 1914
Common Name
Type Locality	Rupununi River, Guyana, 2°-3°N, 50°20'W.
Etymology	German, sturio = sturgeon, + Greek, soma = body. This specific epithet literally means with a single (mono=single) small shield (pelte=small shield).
Species Information
Size	265mm or 10.4" SL. Find near, nearer or same sized spp.
Identification	Sturisoma and Sturisomatichthys can be difficult to tell apart. Older descriptions of the genera emphasized the length of the snout (elongated in Sturisoma), but this trait is not reliable across species. Recent analyses allow discrimination based on the abdominal plates, fin colors and lateral plates: Sturisoma has its central abdominal plates arranged in three clearly-defined longitudinal series; all fins (except sometimes pectoral fins) lack dark spots; and 20–21 lateral plates in median series. Sturisomatichthys has its central abdominal plates less organized, not arranged in clearly-defined longitudinal series; dark spots usually present on one or more of the dorsal-, pectoral-, pelvic, or anal-fins; and 15–18 lateral plates in median series. Furthermore, to date all Sturisoma are cis-Andean; most (but not all) Sturisomatichthys are trans-Andean.
General Remarks	In the original description, the size given was 265mm, this is probably TL. In the original description of this species, Fowler (1914) wrote that the fish were from ''...the Rupununi River, in the highlands of British Guiana. ...approximately secured in North Latitude 2° to 3°, and West Longitude 50° 20'.'' Although the latitude data is imprecise, the longitude data must also be inaccurate, because the Rio Rupununi is located at approximately 59°W Longitude, not 50°W Longitude as Fowler reported. So as not to unilaterally revise Fowler’s original record, the type locality data is being preserved, and displayed as ''2.5°N, 50°20'W'', averaging the two latitude values reported by Fowler and not correcting the longitude value.
Habitat Information
Distribution	South America: Rupununi River basin. Guyana Waters, Coastal Rivers of Guyanas, Essequibo, Rupununi (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 2021.
Husbandry Information
Breeding	Unreported in the aquarium.
Breeding Reports	There is no breeding report.
Further Information
Reference	Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia v. 66, pp 274, Fig. 18.
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 no record of this fish being seen.
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	Look up S. monopelte on PlanetCatfish.com
	Look up S. monopelte on Fishbase
	Look up S. monopelte on Encyclopedia of Life
	Look up S. monopelte on Global Biodiversity Information Facility
	LFS label creator ARN ref:1.4.102.2083
Last Update	2025 Jan 01 12:10 (species record created: 2008 Jun 24 05:24)