Ancistrus sericeus
| Ancistrus sericeus | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Division: | Teleostei |
| Order: | Siluriformes |
| Family: | Loricariidae |
| Genus: | Ancistrus |
| Species: | A. sericeus |
| Binomial name | |
| Ancistrus sericeus | |
| Synonyms[2] | |
| |
Ancistrus sericeus 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 is endemic to Peru.
Taxonomy
Ancistrus sericeus was first formally described in 1872 by the American paleontologist and ichthyologist Edward Drinker Cope, with its type locality given as the Ambyiacu River in Peru.[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 sericeus 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, sericeus, means "silky" or "silken", Cope did not explain his choice of name, nor is it evident.[5]
Description
Ancistrus sericeus reaches a standard length of 5 cm (2.0 in).[6] Ancistrus species develop soft, bushy tentacles on the snout when sexually mature, these are better developed in the males than they are in females.[7]
Distribution and habitat
Ancistrus sericeus is endmeic to Peru where it is found in the Amazon basin. This species is a benthic species which is found in white and clear waters.[1]
Conservation status
Ancistrus sericeus is classified as Least Concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, because, although it has a small range it mostly lies within a protected area and there are no known threats to this species.[1]
References
- 1 2 3 Hidalgo del Aguila, M. (2016). "Ancistrus sericeus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016 e.T49829547A53817128. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-1.RLTS.T49829547A53817128.en. Retrieved 5 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 5 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 5 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 30 May 2026.
- ↑ Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Ancistrus sericeus". FishBase. February 2026 version.
- ↑ "Cat-eLog LORICARIIDAE Hypostominae Ancistrus sericeus". PlanetCatfish.com. Retrieved 5 June 2026.