PlanetCatfish.com - Panaque titan (Loricariidae) Cat-eLog

Close-up of interopercular spines
Sub-adult
Close-up of mouth
Silver dollar shows scale of Panaque!

Cat-eLog Data Sheet
Scientific Name	**Panaque titan** Lujan, Hidalgo & Stewart, 2010
Common Names	L418, Shampupa Royal Pleco Gold-trim Royal Pleco, Grøn Kongesugemalle (Denmark)
Type Locality	Napo River drainage, Apoalla Creek, tributary of lower Shushufindi River, 0°17'S, 76°27'W, Sucumbíos Province, Ecuador.
Pronunciation	pan ah KAY.
Etymology	The generic epithet "panaque" is a Venezuelan common name for this fish. From the Greek Titan, son or daughter of Uranus and Gaea, representing brute force and large size, masculine.
Species Information
Size	394mm or 15.5" SL. Find near, nearer or same sized spp.
Identification	The genus Panaque is identified by the teeth, which are spoon-shaped. This means that the teeth are noticeably wider at the tip than at the base. Other loricariidae have teeth that are similar width all the way from one end to the other. A second distinguishing feature is the lack of a buccal papilla, which is a "flap of skin" on the inside of the mouth. See pictures in this PDF on Pterygoplichthys.
General Remarks	Putu is the Awajun word used to refer to hypostomin loricariids. The Aguaruna usually preface putu with species term. For example nun putu refers to large species of Panaque, shasham putu refers to Panaque albomaculatus; it appears the common name shampupa is a corruption of this term.
Habitat Information
Distribution	Known only from relatively large rivers in lowland and piedmont habitats of the Napo River basin, Ecuador Amazon, Upper Amazon, Napo (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 2020.
Husbandry Information
Feeding	All Panaque appear to feed on wood, so wood should be present in the tank. They also take prepared algae wafers and fresh vegetables (zucchini, cucumber, peas, green beans) and tubers (potato, yams and similar). User data.
Furniture	Natural habitat is among fallen trees and wood-tangles.
Compatibility	Generally peaceful, but may defend their territory against conspecifics.
Breeding	Unreported.
Breeding Reports	There is no breeding report.
Further Information
Reference	Copeia 2010 (no. 4), pp 699, Figs. 6, 10c.
Registered Keepers	There are 24 registered keepers, view all "my cats" data.
Wishlists	Love this species? Click the heart to add it to your wish list. There are 5 wishes to keep this species, see who wants what.
Spotters	Spotted this species somewhere? Click the binoculars! There are 13 records of this fish being seen, view them all.
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	LFS label creator ARN ref:1.4.27.803
Last Update	2025 Jan 01 12:00 (species record created: 2002 Feb 27 00:00)