AquaticRepublic.com - Sturisomatichthys leightoni (Loricariidae) All Fishes

Close-up of head

All Fishes Data Sheet
Scientific Name	**Sturisomatichthys leightoni** (Regan, 1912)
Common Names	Dwarf Royal Twig Catfish Leightons Störwels (Germany)
Type Locality	Honda, Colombia, elevation 300-400 feet.
Synonym(s)	Oxyloricaria leightoni
Etymology	(German)Sturio=Sturgeon + (Greek) soma=body + (Greek) -ichthys=fish.
Species Information
Size	180mm or 7.1" 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.
Habitat Information
Distribution	South America: Upper Magdalena and Cauca River basins. Colombia Caribbean Rivers, Magdalena, Cauca (click on these areas to find other species found there) Colombia Caribbean Rivers, Magdalena, Upper Magdalena (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.
Temperature	20.0-24.0°C or 68-75.2°F (Show species within this range)
Husbandry Information
Breeding	Unreported.
Breeding Reports	There is no breeding report.
Further Information
Reference	Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London 1912 (pt 3) (art. 36), pp 669, Pl. 77 (fig. 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 are 6 records of this fish being seen, view them all.
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	Look up S. leightoni on PlanetCatfish.com
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	Look up S. leightoni on Encyclopedia of Life
	Look up S. leightoni on Global Biodiversity Information Facility
	LFS label creator ARN ref:1.4.48.104
Last Update	2025 Jan 02 01:37 (species record created: 2001 Apr 29 00:00)