AquaticRepublic.com - Sturisoma nigrirostrum (Loricariidae) All Fishes

Close-up of head
Close-up of head
Close-up of head
Close-up of head

All Fishes Data Sheet
Scientific Name	**Sturisoma nigrirostrum** Fowler, 1940
Common Names	Blacksnouted Whiptail Nadelstreifen-Bartwels (Germany), Sortsnudet Størsugemalle (Denmark), Whiptail Pleco
Type Locality	Contamana, Río Ucayali, Peru.
Synonym(s)	Sturiosoma nigrirostrum
Etymology	German, sturio = sturgeon, + Greek, soma = body. This specific epithet refers to its black (nigro=black) snout (rostrum=snout, nose).
Species Information
Size	220mm or 8.7" 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. The underside of the slightly elongate rostrum is dark brown in this species.
Habitat Information
Distribution	South America: Ucayali River basin. Amazon, Upper Amazon, Marañón, Ucayali (click on these areas to find other species found there) Amazon, Upper Amazon, Yavari (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 2014.
pH	6.0 - 7.0
Temperature	24.0-28.0°C or 75.2-82.4°F (Show species within this range)
Other Parameters	Natural habitat is soft water.
Husbandry Information
Feeding	Eats biofilm from stones and driftwood in its natural habitat. It is thought that it may also scrape off some wood to aid digestion. User data.
Furniture	Natural habitat has no plants other than floating plants like Pistia.
Breeding	Unreported.
Breeding Reports	There is no breeding report.
Further Information
Reference	Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia v. 91 (for 1939), pp 249, Figs. 48-50.
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 5 records of this fish being seen, view them all.
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	Look up S. nigrirostrum on PlanetCatfish.com
	Look up S. nigrirostrum on Fishbase
	Look up S. nigrirostrum on Encyclopedia of Life
	Look up S. nigrirostrum on Global Biodiversity Information Facility
	LFS label creator ARN ref:1.4.102.444
Last Update	2025 Jan 02 01:39 (species record created: 2001 Apr 29 00:00)