Loraxichthys lexa Salcedo, 2013

Family:  Loricariidae (Armored catfishes), subfamily: Hypostominae
Max. size:  4.9 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  demersal; freshwater
Distribution:  South America: Río Huallaga in Departament of Huánuco, Peru.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal soft rays (total): 10-11; Anal soft rays: 1-3; Vertebrae: 28-28. Distinguished from all congeners by two uniquely derived characteristics: crenulated skin folds on dorsal border along first pelvic-fin ray in mature males; and, posterior longest evertible cheek odontodes robust with hooked tips, less than twice the length of the odontodes immediately anterior to them. Can be further diagnosed by the following combination of characters unique within the Loricariidae: naked snout with no tentacles; absence of nuchal plate; absence of first dorsal-fin spinelet; absence of adipose fin; three median unpaired plates in position of adipose fin; dentary wide with anguloarticular slightly projected dorsolaterally; lateral anterior process of the basipterygia narrow, almost in contact with the medial anterior process of the basipterygia at midline (Ref. 93320). Description: Lateral-line plates 24- 25. Anal fin absent to inconspicuous; when present anal fin with 1, 2 or 3 rays, all unbranched (Ref. 93320).
Biology:  Encountered in pools and fast water channels (Ref. 93320).
IUCN Red List Status: Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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