Summary of Pterygoplichthys |
Pronounced |
terry gop LICK thees |
Etymology |
Greek, pterygion, diminutive of pteryx = wing, fin + Greek, hoplon = weapon + Greek, ichthys = fish. |
Identification |
Pterygoplichthys can be identified by the number of rays in the dorsal fin. Ten or more dorsal rays (usually more than 10) indicates that it's a Pterygoplichthys. Most other plecos have 8 or fewer rays (in particular the larger Hypostomus species that are most likely to be confused with Pterygoplichthys). |
Feeding |
Omnivorous and a good algae eater, especially when young. |
Tankmates |
Almost any medium sized community fish. |
Sexing |
Comparison of the genital papilla in mature fish shows the differences in the sexes to the trained eye. In males this is a small yet thick stump which noticeably protrudes from the fish's undercarriage. In females it is less obvious and is recessed or lies flat with the body. |
Breeding |
Unreported in captivity, in nature, the male fish occupies a tunnel in soft river bank in which the eggs are laid and guarded. The egg mass of bright orange eggs contains thousands of eggs. |
Size |
Smallest 197mm, largest 700mm, average 381mm, most commonly 500mm. All SL. |
Species |
There are 23 "species" in the database |
Keepers |
16 species (69%) are being kept by registered keepers |
New spp. / time |
 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1750 | 1770 | 1790 | 1810 | 1830 | 1850 | 1870 | 1890 | 1910 | 1930 | 1950 | 1970 | 1990 | 2010 |
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Genus Thumbnails |
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/siluriformes/loricariidae/pterygoplichthys/ambrosettii/1.jpg) P. ambrosettii (i:4, k:3)
/siluriformes/loricariidae/pterygoplichthys/chrysostiktos/1.jpg) P. chrysostiktos (i:2, k:0)
/siluriformes/loricariidae/pterygoplichthys/disjunctivus/1.jpg) P. disjunctivus (i:8, k:24)
/siluriformes/loricariidae/pterygoplichthys/etentaculatus/1.jpg) P. etentaculatus (i:4, k:1)
/siluriformes/loricariidae/pterygoplichthys/gibbiceps/1.jpg) P. gibbiceps (i:34, k:342)
/siluriformes/loricariidae/pterygoplichthys/joselimaianus/1.jpg) P. joselimaianus (i:16, k:163)
/siluriformes/loricariidae/pterygoplichthys/lituratus/1.jpg) P. lituratus (i:6, k:1)
/siluriformes/loricariidae/pterygoplichthys/multiradiatus/1.jpg) P. multiradiatus (i:2, k:12)
/siluriformes/loricariidae/pterygoplichthys/pardalis/1.jpg) P. pardalis (i:30, k:348)
/siluriformes/loricariidae/pterygoplichthys/parnaibae/1.jpg) P. parnaibae (i:10, k:5)
/siluriformes/loricariidae/pterygoplichthys/punctatus/1.jpg) P. punctatus (i:4, k:15)
/siluriformes/loricariidae/pterygoplichthys/scrophus/1.jpg) P. scrophus (i:13, k:100)
/siluriformes/loricariidae/pterygoplichthys/sp(1)/1.jpg) P. sp. (1) (i:1, k:1)
 P. sp. (L154) (i:0, k:0)
/siluriformes/loricariidae/pterygoplichthys/sp(l164)/1.jpg) P. sp. (L164) (i:3, k:5)
/siluriformes/loricariidae/pterygoplichthys/sp(l313)/1.jpg) P. sp. (L313) (i:1, k:4)
/siluriformes/loricariidae/pterygoplichthys/sp(l347)/1.jpg) P. sp. (L347) (i:1, k:2)
/siluriformes/loricariidae/pterygoplichthys/sp(l472)/1.jpg) P. sp. (L472) (i:2, k:0)
/siluriformes/loricariidae/pterygoplichthys/sp`rio_callaru`/1.jpg) P. sp. `RIO CALLARU` (i:3, k:0)
 P. undecimalis (i:0, k:0)
/siluriformes/loricariidae/pterygoplichthys/weberi/1.jpg) P. weberi (i:15, k:16)
/siluriformes/loricariidae/pterygoplichthys/xinguensis/1.jpg) P. xinguensis (i:1, k:0)
/siluriformes/loricariidae/pterygoplichthys/zuliaensis/1.jpg) P. zuliaensis (i:1, k:0)
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Distribution of selected Pterygoplichthys species |
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