Acanthicus

Taxobox
name = "Acanthicus"
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Actinopterygii
ordo = Siluriformes
familia = Loricariidae
subfamilia = Hypostominae
tribus = Ancistrini
genus = "Acanthicus"
genus_authority = Spix & Agassiz, 1829
type_species = "Acanthicus hystrix"
type_species_authority = Spix & Agassiz, 1829
subdivision_ranks = Binomial name
subdivision =
"Acanthicus adonis"
Isbrücker & Njissen, 1988
"Acanthicus hystrix"
Spix & Agassiz, 1829

"Acanthicus" is a genus of catfishes (order Siluriformes) of the family Loricariidae. It includes two species, "A. adonis" and "A. hystrix".cite journal|url=http://silurus.acnatsci.org/ACSI/library/biblios/2007_Ferraris_Catfish_Checklist.pdf|title=Checklist of catfishes, recent and fossil (Osteichthyes: Siluriformes), and catalogue of siluriform primary types|first=Carl J., Jr.|last=Ferraris|journal=Zootaxa|volume=1418|pages=1–628|year=2007|format=PDF]

The name "Acanthicus" is derived from the Greek, "akanthikos" meaning thorny, spiny.FishBase genus|genus=Acanthicus|year=2007|month=July] Fish of this genus are known as Lyre tail plecos. "A. hystrix" may also be known as L155 by the L-number system.cite web|url=http://www.planetcatfish.com/catelog/species.php?species_id=217|title=PlanetCatfish::Cat-eLog::Loricariidae::Acanthicus hystrix|date=2006-08-13|accessdate=2007-07-21]

Distribution

They are native to the Amazon and Orinoco rivers of South America and possibly in Guayana.cite paper|url=http://www.auburn.edu/academic/science_math/res_area/loricariid/fish_key/Acanth/acansub.html|title="Acanthicus" (Spix, 1829)|first=Jonathan W.|last=Armbruster|accessdate=2007-07-21] "A. adonis" is from the lower Tocantins River basin in Brazil while "A. hystrix" is from the Amazon River basin.

Description

"Acanthicus" are large species that may grow up to 1 metre (39 in). "A. adonis" grows up to about 20.6 centimetres (8.11 in) SL, but are also reported to grow much larger to 100 cm (39 in) SL.FishBase species|genus=Acanthicus|species=adonis|year=2007|month=July] "A. hystrix" has a maximum recorded length of about 53.0 cm (20.8 in) SL but is reported to grow up to 70 cm (28 in) TL.FishBase species|genus=Acanthicus|species=hystrix|year=2007|month=July]

These fish are relatively slender, spiny Loricariids that lack an adipose fin. The caudal fin possesses long filamentous lobes on the upper and lower margins and is forked. The pectoral fin spines are extremely long. The entire dorsal surface of the head is covered in stout, sharp odontodes. The odontodes form a sharp keel on the lateral plates and, in juveniles, there are few to no odontodes on the plates above and below the keel rows. The cheek odontodes are fairly thin, but numerous. Males may have more and longer cheek odontodes and greatly elongated odontodes on the pectoral fin spine.

The colour of these fish is typically black, sometimes gray, with the abdomen the same color as the rest of the body. "A. adonis" shows white spots on a black background in juveniles; the adults lack these whie spots, but are pitch black, unlike other "Acanthicus" species.cite web|url=http://www.planetcatfish.com/catelog/species.php?species_id=277|title=PlanetCatfish::Cat-eLog::Loricariidae::Acanthicus adonis|date=2007-05-03|accessdate=2007-07-21]

Ecology

"Acanthicus" species are found in large rivers. Fish of this genera are omnivorous, juveniles feed on algae and aufwuchs.Fact|date=July 2007

In the aquarium

"A. adonis" is an ornamental fish in the aquarium fishkeeping hobby. It is a generalist or opportunist feeder and will accept most kinds of fish food. Objects in the aquarium should be stable so that they are not knocked over by these fish. These fish are rather territorial and must be kept in a large aquarium with many refuges; care should be taken when keeping these fish with other loricariids as this has been known to result in death of one or both fish. They require well-filtered water. They have been bred in captivity.

References