PlanetCatfish.com - Sturisomatichthys festivus (Loricariidae) Cat-eLog

Male with eggs
Ventral view
Close-up of mouth
From Myers (1942)
From Myers (1942)
Male with eggs
Close-up of male guarding eggs
Eggs
Fry

Cat-eLog Data Sheet
Scientific Name	**Sturisomatichthys festivus** (Myers, 1942)
Common Name	Real Royal Farlowella
Type Locality	Río Monay, 35 km north of Trujillo, Motatan system, Maracaibo basin, Venezuela.
Synonym(s)	Sturisoma festivum
Pronunciation	fess TIV um
Etymology	(German)Sturio=Sturgeon + (Greek) soma=body + (Greek) -ichthys=fish.
Species Information
Size	180mm or 7.1" SL. Find near, nearer or same sized spp.
Identification	Sturisoma and Sturisomatichthys can be difficult to tell apart. Older descriptions of the genera emphasized the length of the snout (elongated in Sturisoma), but this trait is not reliable across species. Recent analyses allow discrimination based on the abdominal plates, fin colors and lateral plates: Sturisoma has its central abdominal plates arranged in three clearly-defined longitudinal series; all fins (except sometimes pectoral fins) lack dark spots; and 20–21 lateral plates in median series. Sturisomatichthys has its central abdominal plates less organized, not arranged in clearly-defined longitudinal series; dark spots usually present on one or more of the dorsal-, pectoral-, pelvic, or anal-fins; and 15–18 lateral plates in median series. Furthermore, to date all Sturisoma are cis-Andean; most (but not all) Sturisomatichthys are trans-Andean. This high-backed species develops long extensions to the pectoral fins.
General Remarks	Alongside the Blue Eyed Pleco, Panaque cochliodon, this species was a mainstay export until the 1990s. Degradation of habitat, thought to be industrial waste entering the river in the areas collected (Honda / Puerto Bogota) saw exports stop. Remaining captive individuals were slowly hybridised with other similar species. Like the Blue Eye, this species may turn up, but is often misidentified.
Habitat Information
Distribution	Venezuela: Maracaibo Basin Colombia: Rio Catatumbo. Lake Maracaibo (click on these areas to find other species found there) Lake Maracaibo, Catatumbo (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.
Temperature	24.0-28.0°C or 75.2-82.4°F (Show species within this range)
Husbandry Information
Breeding	Unreported.
Breeding Reports	There are 9 breeding reports, read them all here.
Further Information
Reference	Stanford Ichthyological Bulletin v. 2 (no. 4), pp 100, Figs. 8-10.
Registered Keepers	There are 51 registered keepers, view all "my cats" data.
Wishlists	Love this species? Click the heart to add it to your wish list. There are 3 wishes to keep this species, see who wants what.
Spotters	Spotted this species somewhere? Click the binoculars! There are 14 records of this fish being seen, view them all.
Forum BBCode

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	Look up S. festivus on Encyclopedia of Life
	Look up S. festivus on Global Biodiversity Information Facility
	LFS label creator ARN ref:1.4.48.829
Last Update	2025 Jan 02 01:39 (species record created: 2002 Apr 06 00:00)