Teleostei (teleosts) >
Siluriformes (Catfishes) >
Loricariidae (Armored catfishes) > Hypostominae
Etymology: Pterygoplichthys: Greek, pterygion, diminutive of pteryx = wing, fin + Greek, hoplon = weapon + Greek, ichthys = fish (Ref. 45335).
More on author: Steindachner.
Issue
New combination in Eigenmann and Eigenmann (1889:44). Complementary description by Weber (1992:26).
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; demersal. Tropical
South America: Magdalena River basin.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 50.0 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 26543)
Facultative air-breathing (Ref. 126274); May be found in rivers with strong current but prefers backwaters (Ref. 26543). Feeds on detritus and periphyton on submerged trunks and aquatic macrophytes (Ref. 26543).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturities | Reproduction | Spawnings | Egg(s) | Fecundities | Larvae
Males guard the fertilized eggs (Ref. 26543).
Galvis, G., J.I. Mojica and M. Camargo, 1997. Peces del Catatumbo. Asociación Cravo Norte, Santafé de Bogotá, D.C., 188 p. (Ref. 26543)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Tools
Special reports
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Internet sources
Estimates based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.5000 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.02239 (0.01169 - 0.04288), b=2.93 (2.77 - 3.09), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this species & Genus-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 2.0 ±0.00 se; based on food items.
Resilience (Ref.
120179): Very Low, minimum population doubling time more than 14 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Moderate vulnerability (44 of 100).