Tag Archives: Hypostomus

Hypostomus sertanejo

26. October 2022

For the first time we can offer this very nice Hypostomus from the Rio Jaguaribe (Cerea State, Brazil). It is a species that was described scientifically only in 2017, although 19 specimens of this species were found in the scientific collection of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, U.S.A., which had been collected and deposited there by R. von Ihering already in about 1936. Sometimes it takes a little longer…

Hypostomus sertanejo becomes about 20-25 cm long. It is a typical representative of its genus and a diligent algae exterminator. The nice juvenile markings with large white spots remain for a long time, even about 10 cm long specimens still show them. In fully adult fish the spots are much smaller. Our animals are currently 4-5 cm long and very lively little fellows, which are active also during the day a lot in the aquarium. Among themselves they are peaceful, and also against other fish no aggressive behavior is to be expected. In nature, the fish lives in clear water, the bottom consists of boulders and sand, sometimes with underwater vegetation. Fish species, with which the species lives together in nature, are e.g. Parotocinclus jumbo (LDA25), Moenkhausia costae and Tetragonopterus argenteus.

For our customers: the fish have code 263741 on our stock list. Please note that we only supply wholesale.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Hypostomus roseopunctatus L311

19. November 2021

Not less than 148 species are counted to the genus Hypostomus, but no five of them appear more often in the trade. Special is of course H. luteus with its sail-like dorsal fin and the bright yellow coloration, but most species are “plecos”, brown or gray with black spots. In addition, most species grow quite large (20-40 cm) for normal aquariums.

An exception is Hypostomus roseopunctatus. It comes, like also H. luteus, from the south of Brazil, as well as from Paraguay and further areas of the inflows of the rivers La Plata and Rio Uruguay. Whether the species is really identical with L311, which was exported from the Brazilian state of Bahia, which is much further north, is not clear, but in the trade one hardly cares. Clear recognition mark of the only extremely rarely imported species is the small number of teeth per maxillary branch, as our animals show. The pink stippling is also very characteristic.

Hypostomus roseopunctatus becomes about 25 cm long, therefore our specimens are almost fully grown. The two fish shown in the photo are probably a pair due to the physical differences. These catfishes are very tolerant among each other and towards other fishes anyway.

For our customers: the fish have code 26480-L 311-7 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesale.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Aphanotorulus sp. L11

18. June 2021

The correct name of this beautiful catfish from the Rio Xingu is a matter of dispute among experts. In many parts of South America similar looking catfishes can be found, which are all close to the species already described in 1840 as Hypostomus emarginatus. These were assigned to the genus Squaliforma in 2001, and to the genus Aphanotorulus in 2016. There are also some L-numbers: L11 (Rio Xingu, Brazil), L108 (Ecuador, Rio Napo), L116 (Rio Trombetas, Brazil), L131 (Rio Tapajós, Brazil), and L153 (Venezuela).

Nathan Lujan wrote us: “All the members of the Hypostomus emarginatus “group” were pretty well resolved in our paper where we identified that they were actually in Aphanotorulus. Even though the type location is only listed as the Amazon, we showed that it likely came from the lower Amazon. Figure 8 in our paper is a distribution map for A. emarginatus, which shows the lower Amazon and its major tributaries plus the Essiquibo. The likely sister species is A. horridus, found in the upper Amazon, basically upstream of its confluence with the Rio Negro. Figure 12 in our paper is it’s distribution map. Here’s the link to the paper: https://www.mapress.com/…/view/zootaxa.4072.5.1/4170“

L11 is a wonderful large catfish for appropriate aquariums with fish from the Rio Xingu. In cichlid tanks it is an excellent algae eater. On the one hand it can take a poke, but on the other hand it is peaceful against conspecifics as well as against other fish. Fish from the Rio Xingu should be kept warm, 26-30°C correspond to the natural conditions. Under such conditions L11 can grow up to 40 cm long and live in the aquarium for decades.

For our customers: the animals have code 26480-L 011-5 on our stocklist. Please note that we supply only wholesale.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Hypostomus rhantos L242

13. March 2019

With almost 150 accepted species, the genus Hypostomus (in the broadest sense) is the most species-rich group of loricariid catfish. Unfortunately, there is no current revision of all species and so the determination of Hypostomus is usually a laborious affair, in the end often only a questionable result.

Hypostomus rhantos is pleasingly easy to recognize. The L-number 242 was applied on it before its scientific description. The fine dot pattern and the orange tending coloration make the species almost unmistakable; only Hypostomus micromaculatus from Surinam has similarly small dots.

Hypostomus rhantos is quite attractive in color and certainly one of the most beautiful Hypostomus species. It comes from the upper Orinoco in Venezuela, becomes about 20 cm long and is a typical Aufwuchs eater. As by-catch we received some Hypostomus sp. L192 and a Hypostomus species from the Cochliodon group, which is almost identical in color to L192, but has a completely different dentition; it is probably Hypostomus (Cochliodon) sculpodon or an undescribed species.

For our customers: Hypostomus rhantos has code 26480-L 242-2 on our stocklist. Please note that we only supply wholesalers.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

L137 Hypostomus soniae / Cochliodon soniae

27. August 2018

The pretty, blue-eyed L137 from the Rio Tapajós is only rarely offered. It is a medium-sized species of Hypostomus that can reach a maximum length of about 20 cm. The colour of the fish is quite variable. Specimens exist that have rather brown fins, others have spotted fins and again others have bright orange-red fins. The latter might be confused with the similar “Bruno” from Paraguay (code 27510), but L137 can be always identified by the blue eyes, which are unique within the genus Hypostomus.

For our customers: the fish have code 26480-L 137-1 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.

Lexicon: Hypostomus: from ancient Greek, means “with inferior mouth”. Cochliodon: menas “with mussel-shaped tooth”. soniae: dedication name for Sonia Fisch-Muller, curator for fishes at the Muesum of Geneva.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer

Squaliforma cf. emarginata L11

3. August 2018

Among the loricariid catfishes that are known by scientists for a very long time already is this species. It has been described initially 1840 under the name of Hypostomus emarginatus. Since then it has been placed in different genera, in 2001 in Squaliforma and in 2016 in Aphanotorulus, when Squaliforma has been considered to be a synonym of Aphanotorulus. However, that latest act is not followed by all scientists so far, so we are a bit conservative and stay with the placement within Squaliforma.

Sadly the collecting site of the type specimen of Squaliforma emarginata is not known. Not less than 5 L-numbers have been given for that species, all from different locations (L11 from Brazil, Rio Xingu near Altamira, L108 from Ecuador, upper course of the Rio Napo, L116 from Brazil, Rio Trombetas, L131 from Brazil, Rio Tapajós, L153 from Venezuela, Rio Apure). This fish (or very close relatives, who knows) is known currently from almost the whole of the Orinoco and the Amazon basins. As the fish we currently have in stock originate from the Rio Xingu the L-number 11 fits.

L11 can become as large as 40 cm and is known as a very peaceful member of the loricariid family that is very well suited for aquaria large enough. It is also a quite pretty fish!

For our customers: the animals have code 26480-L 011-4 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.

Text & photos: Frank Schäfer