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Down arrow Cat-eLog Data Sheet
Scientific Name Ancistrus martini  Schultz, 1944
Common Names Cucuta Pleco
Bristlenose Catfish
Type Locality Río Táchira, 7 km north of San Antonio, Río Catatumbo system, Venezuela
Synonym(s) Ancistrus bodenhameri, Ancistrus brevifilis bodenhameri, Ancistrus triradiatus martini
Pronunciation an SISS truss
Etymology The name Ancistrus is derived from the Greek word agkistron, meaning hook, in reference to the interopercular odontodes that are hooked. Named after Bethea Martin of the Lago Petroleum Corporation, who aided Schultz during fish collection in Venezuela.
Down arrow Species Information
Size 114mm or 4.5" SL. Find near, nearer or same sized spp.
Identification Mature males and sometimes females have soft tentacles (bushy fleshy growths) on the snout - this is unique to the genus Ancistrus.

Head and anterior body broad, tapering back to tail. Body brown to black, with distinct (not diffuse) light spots covering the head, barbels and body, with head spots smaller anteriorly and enlarging posteriorly. Abdomen also dark, covered with larger, ovoid pale spots which may fuse to form vermiculations. Fins covered with rows of alternating dark and light spots on rays. The dark spots can spread onto fin membranes, forming parallel dark bands. A single dark spot at dorsal fin base, between dorsal spine and first soft ray. A pale bar across the caudal peduncle, at the base of the caudal fin rays. Upper and lower tips of caudal fin, white to yellow-orange.
Sexing Males develop soft tentacles on the head and while sometimes females also do, it is never to the grand extent of those found on that of the conspecific male.
General Remarks Ancistrus bodenhameri was synonymized with A. martini by Taphorn et al., 2013 (Zootaxa, 3641(4): 343-370).
Down arrow Habitat Information
Distribution South America: Venezuela and Colombia, rivers of Lake Maracaibo Basin.
Lake Maracaibo, Catatumbo, Zulia (click on these areas to find other species found there)
Lake Maracaibo, Catatumbo (click on these areas to find other species found there)
Lake Maracaibo (click on these areas to find other species found there)

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IUCN Red List Category Not Evaluated
Down arrow Husbandry Information
Feeding Ancistrus should be fed mainly on vegetarian foods. Prepared foods include algae wafers and spirulina based sinking food. Vegetables such as courgette/zucchini, and (English) cucumber are an excellent addition to the diet, along with the odd, small amount of more meaty foods.
Compatibility A good complement to most aquariums, they are not aggressive to other species. Males may fight over territory if kept in too small a tank.
Suggested Tankmates Appropriate with most community fish that aren't overly big or aggressive.
Breeding Unreported.
Breeding Reports There is but a single breeding report, read it here.
Down arrow Further Information
Reference Proceedings of the United States National Museum v. 94 (no. 3172), pp 302, Pl. 9 (figs. C-D).
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There are 3 registered keepers, view all "my cats" data.
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There is but a single record of this fish being seen, view it.
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Last Update 2020 Jul 28 04:53 (species record created: 2008 May 31 04:24)