Ancistrus maculatus
| Ancistrus maculatus | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Division: | Teleostei |
| Order: | Siluriformes |
| Family: | Loricariidae |
| Genus: | Ancistrus |
| Species: | A. maculatus |
| Binomial name | |
| Ancistrus maculatus (Steindachner, 1881)[2] | |
| Synonyms[2] | |
| |
Ancistrus maculatus is a species of freshwater ray-finned fish belonging to the family Loricariidae, the suckermouth armoured catfishes, and the subfamily Hypostominae, the suckermouth catfishes. This catfish, which is known only from its type series and may not be a valid species, is found in Brazil.
Taxonomy
Ancistrus maculatus was first formally described as Chaetostomus cirrhosus maculatus in 1881 by the Austrian ichthyologist Franz Steindachner, with its type locality given as the Cudajas, Obidos, Tajapoura River, Chagres River, South America.[2] Eschmeyer's Catalog of Fishes classified the genus Ancistrus in the subfamily Hypostominae, the suckermouth catfishes, within the suckermouth armored catfish family Loricariidae.[3] It has also been classified in the tribe Ancistrini by some authorities.[4]
Etymology
Ancistrus maculatus is classified in the genus Ancistrus, a name coined by Rudolf Kner, but when he proposed the genus he did not explain the etymology of the name. It is thought to be from the Greek ágkistron, meaning a "fish hook" or the "hook of a spindle", a reference to the hooked odontodes on the interopercular bone. The specific name, maculatus, means "spotted", it was originally described as a spotted subspecies of A. cirrhosus.[5]
Description
Ancistrus maculatus reaches a standard length of 11.8 cm (4.6 in).[6] This fish is known to have a modified iris called an omega iris, an adaptation shared with other loricariids. The top part of the iris descends to form a loop which can expand and contract, a structure which is known as an iris operculum. When light levels are high, such as during the day, the pupil reduces in diameter and the loop expands to cover the center of the pupil, forming a crescent-shaped, light-transmitting portion.[7]
Distribution
Ancistrus maculatus is known only from the type series which Steindachner said was collected in the Tajapoura River in Brazil as well as the Chagres River in Panama. It is known that specimens from Brazil and Panama were mixed and that some of the type series are A. chagresi. A lectotype of A. maculatus needs to be designated to stabilise the valididt of this taxon.[1]
Conservation status
Ancistrus maculatus is of uncertain taxonomic validity and its distribution, biology and population are unknown, the International Union for Conservation of Nature has there fore classifued this taxon as Data Deficient.[1]
References
- 1 2 3 Varella, H.R. (2023). "Ancistrus maculatus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2023 e.T178113283A178113446. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2023-1.RLTS.T178113283A178113446.en. Retrieved 1 June 2026.
- 1 2 3 Fricke, Ron; Eschmeyer, William N. & van der Laan, Richard (eds.). "Species in the genus Ancistrus". Catalog of Fishes. California Academy of Sciences. Retrieved 1 June 2026.
- ↑ Fricke, Ron; Eschmeyer, William N. & van der Laan, Richard (eds.). "Genera in the family Hypostominae". Catalog of Fishes. California Academy of Sciences. Retrieved 1 June 2026.
- ↑ Armbruster, J. W. and N. K. Lujan (2025). "New tribe-level classification of Hypostominae (Loricariidae) based on optimization of morphological states on DNA-based relationships, with descriptions of three new tribes and two new genera". Neotropical Ichthyology. 22 (4)): 1–32. doi:10.1590/1982-0224-2024-0108.
- ↑ Christopher Scharpf (18 January 2026). "Family LORICARIIDAE: Subfamily HYPOSTOMINAE Kner 1853 (Suckermouth Catfishes or Plecos)". The ETYFish Project Fish Name Etymology Database. Christopher Scharpf. Retrieved 1 June 2026.
- ↑ Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Ancistrus maculatus". FishBase. February 2026 version.
- ↑ Douglas, R. H.; Collin, S. P. & Corrigan, J. (2002). "The eyes of suckermouth armoured catfish (Loricariidae, subfamily Hypostomus): pupil response, lenticular longitudinal spherical aberration and retinal topography". The Journal of Experimental Biology. 205 (22): 3425–3433. doi:10.1242/jeb.205.22.3425.