PlanetCatfish.com - Ancistrus martini (Loricariidae) Cat-eLog

Cat-eLog Loricariidae Hypostominae Ancistrus | |

Upper Zulia River. Photo by Gustavo Ballen.
Photo, Nathan Lujan
Dorsal view. Photo, Nathan Lujan
Spotted ventrum. Photo, Nathan Lujan
Vermiculated ventrum
Ventral view
Dorsal view
Ventral view

Cat-eLog Data Sheet
Scientific Name	**Ancistrus martini** Schultz, 1944
Common Names	Martin's Bristlenose Pleco Bristlenose Catfish
Type Locality	Río Táchira, 7 kilometers 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.
Species Information
Size	89mm or 3.5" 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).
Habitat Information
Distribution	South America: Zulia River basin in the Catatumbo River drainage, Lake Maracaibo drainage, Venezuela. 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) Login to view the map.
IUCN Red List Category	Least Concern , range map and more is available on the IUCN species page. Last assessed 2021.
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. User data.
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.
Further Information
Reference	Proceedings of the United States National Museum v. 94 (no. 3172), pp 302, Pl. 9 (figs. C-D).
Registered Keepers	There are 5 registered keepers, view all "my cats" data.
Wishlists	Love this species? Click the heart to add it to your wish list. There is no wish to keep this species.
Spotters	Spotted this species somewhere? Click the binoculars! There are 3 records of this fish being seen, view them all.
Forum BBCode

	Search for A. martini
	Look up A. martini on AquaticRepublic.com
	Look up A. martini on Fishbase
	Look up A. martini on Encyclopedia of Life
	Look up A. martini on Global Biodiversity Information Facility
	LFS label creator ARN ref:1.4.4.2019
Last Update	2025 Jan 01 12:06 (species record created: 2008 May 31 04:24)