Hypostomus plecostomus
Hypostomus plecostomus | |
---|---|
An individual from the Commewijne River Basin, published along with the 2012 revision of the Hypostomus plecostomus type series[1] | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Actinopterygii |
Order: | Siluriformes |
Family: | Loricariidae |
Subfamily: | Hypostominae |
Tribe: | Hypostomini
|
Genus: | Hypostomus |
Species: | H. plecostomus
|
Binomial name | |
Hypostomus plecostomus | |
Synonyms[3] | |
Acipenser plecostomus Linnaeus, 1758 |
Hypostomus plecostomus, also known as the suckermouth catfish or common pleco, is a
Suckermouth catfish are of little or no value as a
Distribution and habitat
This species' native range is
Some Loricariidae species have been widely introduced to several countries around the world and reported as H. plecostomus.[3] It is erroneous,[1] and the concerned species belong to the genus Pterygoplichthys (either P. pardalis,[8] P. disjunctivus,[9] P. anisitsi[10] or P. multiradiatus[11]). In the United States, a Pterygoplichthys species has been introduced to some regions in the South, most likely released by aquarists into the local waters. For example, they are present in a lake in the neighborhood of Hammock Trace Preserve in Melbourne, Florida. In Texas, reproducing populations occur in spring-influenced habitats of the San Antonio River (Bexar County), Comal Springs (Comal County), San Marcos River (Hays County), and San Felipe Creek (Val Verde County), as well as in drainage canals in the Rio Grande Valley and Houston.[12][13]
The same identification issues have spread in the literature regarding the invasive catfishes in Taiwan, with H. plecostomus being one of the numerous names used to designate the species: DNA studies showed the alien fishes were actually P. pardalis and P. disjunctivus (that hybridise extensively).[14]
H. plecostomus prefer to live in water between 72 and 86 degrees Fahrenheit (~22.2 to 30 degrees Celsius), with a pH between 6.5 and 7.5.[15]
Diet
Hypostomus plecostomus is named for its sucker-like mouth, which allows it to adhere to a surface, as well as to hold and rasp at food, including newly hatched and baby golden apple snails as well as Malaysian trumpet snails.[16] This omnivorous species also feeds on algae, aquatic plants, and small crustaceans.[17][citation needed]
Physiology
Hypostomus plecostomus is one of many species of fish that is able to breathe air. Hypostomus plecostomus relies on its gills for respiration in normal and slightly hypoxic water, and the less oxygen present in the water, the more frequently it surfaces to breathe air.[18] The air is taken to the stomach where the oxygen is absorbed, and the air can be kept in the stomach to increase buoyancy, which may help it to feed on vegetation.[19]
In the aquarium
H. plecostomus is one of a number of species commonly referred to as "plecostomus" or "common pleco" by
Invasive species
In Bangladesh, the species, among some other suckermouth catfishes has become invasive. The government is currently on its way to impose a ban on the farming, hatchling production, breeding, marketing and trading of the fish.[22] It has also raised serious concern in India and Sri Lanka.[23]
Naming
Common names
A large variety of common names is used to describe H. plecostomus, where plecostomus and the shortened "pleco" are interchangeable in all common names. The names include:
- algae sucker/eater
- pez diablo (devil fish)[24][25]
- pleco
- water old lady (vieja del agua)
- janitor fish[3]
- municipal fish – 'ikan bandaraya' in Malay
- suckermouth catfish[3]
- sweeper fish – 'ikan sapu sapu' in Indonesian
- crocodile fish (not to be confused with Papilloculiceps longiceps, which is originally known as the crocodile fish or tentacled flathead)
Taxonomy
The species' scientific name, Hypostomus plecostomus, is derived from the Latin hypo (meaning "under"), stoma (meaning "mouth"), and pleco (meaning "pleated").[citation needed]
Many of the common names used to identify Hypostomus plecostomus are also used for other species, which augments the confusion surrounding H. plecostomus and other Loricariidae such as
See also
References
- ^ a b c d e Weber, Claude; Covain, Raphaël; Fisch-Muller, Sonia (2012). "Identity of Hypostomus plecostomus (Linnaeus, 1758), with an overview of Hypostomus species from the Guianas (Teleostei: Siluriformes: Loricariidae)". Cybium. 36 (1): 195–227.
- ^ . Retrieved 17 April 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2024). "Hypostomus plecostomus" in FishBase. April 2024 version.
- ^ "Hypostomus plecostomus". Cat-eLog. PlanetCatfish. Archived from the original on 3 July 2021. Retrieved 28 October 2011.
- ^ Sanders, Jessie. "Suckermouth Catfish Species Profile". thesprucepe.com. DotDash. Retrieved 25 July 2021.
- ISBN 978-9977-67-489-6.
- doi:10.15560/9.5.987.
- ^ Amazon Sailfin Catfish (Pterygoplichthys pardalis) – FactSheet Archived 2017-10-13 at the Wayback Machine, Nonindigenous Aquatic Species
- ^ Vermiculated Sailfin Catfish(Pterygoplichthys disjunctivus) – FactSheet Archived 2017-10-13 at the Wayback Machine, Nonindigenous Aquatic Species
- ^ Paraná Sailfin Catfish (Pterygoplichthys anisitsi) – FactSheet Archived 2017-10-13 at the Wayback Machine, Nonindigenous Aquatic Species
- ^ Orinoco Sailfin Catfish (Pterygoplichthys multiradiatus) – FactSheet Archived 2017-07-11 at the Wayback Machine, Nonindigenous Aquatic Species
- (PDF) from the original on 25 April 2012. Retrieved 31 October 2011.
- ^ Shafland, P. L. (1976). "The Continuing Problem of Non-Native Fishes in Florida". Fisheries. 1 (6): 24. Archived from the original on 20 January 2013. Retrieved 31 October 2011.
- ^ Wu, Li-Wei; Chien-Chin, Liu; Si-Min, Lin (2011). "Identification of exotic sailfin catfish species (Pterygoplichthys, Loricariidae) in Taiwan based on morphology and mtDNA sequences". Zoological Studies. 50 (2): 235–246.
- ^ "Common Pleco Care: Diet, Size, Lifespan, Tank Size…". Aquarium Source. 11 July 2020. Archived from the original on 2 June 2021. Retrieved 1 June 2021.
- ^ "Care Guide for Plecos – The Mighty Armored Catfish". Aquariumcoop.com. Acquarium Co-Op. Retrieved 25 July 2021.
- ^ "Plecostomus". Smithsonian's National Zoo. 2016-04-25. Archived from the original on 2019-05-08. Retrieved 2019-05-30.
- ^ Gill morphometry of the facultative air-breathing loricariid fish,Hypostomus plecostomus (Walbaum) with, special emphasis on aquatic respiration, Perna and Fernandes 1996 Fish Physiology and Biochemistry
- ^ The Transition to Air Breathing in Fishes:: I. Environmental Effects on the Facultative Air Breathing of Ancistrus Chagresi and Hypostomus Plecostomus Loricariidae. 1982 GRAHAM, J. B., & BAIRD, T. A. https://journals.biologists.com/jeb/article/96/1/53/23365/The-Transition-to-Air-Breathing-in-Fishes-I
- ^ Momchil (4 April 2022). "How Big Do Plecos Get? (Full Adult Body Size)". Aquanswers. Retrieved 30 October 2022.
- ^ "Common Pleco Care: Diet, Size, Lifespan, Tank Size…". Aquarium Source. 11 July 2020. Archived from the original on 2 June 2021. Retrieved 1 June 2021.
- ^ Express, The Financial. "Bangladesh to ban 'suckermouth catfish' as it threatens aquatic biodiversity". The Financial Express. Retrieved 2022-11-17.
- ^ "The alien fish invading India's rivers and lakes". The Independent. 2022-04-12. Retrieved 2022-11-17.
- ^ "Fish jerky, anyone? Business hopes to sell Mexico's 'devil fish' to Canadians as sustainable snack | CBC News". Archived from the original on 2021-07-03. Retrieved 2020-05-10.
- PMID 31966247.
Further reading
- "Don't Dump Your Aquarium in the River!". San Antonio River Authority. 2021-11-12. Retrieved 2021-11-19.