Ancistrus variolus
| Ancistrus variolus | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Division: | Teleostei |
| Order: | Siluriformes |
| Family: | Loricariidae |
| Genus: | Ancistrus |
| Species: | A. variolus |
| Binomial name | |
| Ancistrus variolus | |
| Synonyms<erf anme = "Cof genus"/> | |
| |
Ancistrus variolus 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 variolus 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 variolus 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, variolus, is a masculisation of variola, which means "pox" or "pustule", a reference Cope did not explains but is thought to be a reference to the many large, round spots over its body.[5]
Description
Ancistrus variolus reaches a standard length of 4.2 cm (1.7 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 variolus is found in the Amazon basin in Peru. This species is found in rivers with mixed, black and white waters, with a lot of woody debris and other organic matter, in shady waters within primary forest, where it is typically found in submerged logs.[1]
Conservation status
Ancistrus variolus is classified as Data Deficient by the International Union for Conservation of Nature because this species is very difficult to identify and this obscures its true status.[1]
References
- 1 2 3 Velasquez, M.; Chocano, L. & Hidalgo del Aguila, M. (2016). "Ancistrus variolus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016 e.T49829757A53817358. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-1.RLTS.T49829757A53817358.en. Retrieved 12 June 2026.
- 1 2 Fricke, Ron; Eschmeyer, William N. & van der Laan, Richard (eds.). "Species in the genus Ancistrus". Catalog of Fishes. California Academy of Sciences. Retrieved 12 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 12 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 12 June 2026.
- ↑ Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Ancistrus variolus". FishBase. February 2026 version.
- ↑ "Cat-eLog LORICARIIDAE Hypostominae Ancistrus variolus". PlanetCatfish.com. Retrieved 12 June 2026.