Peckoltia bachi
Encyclopedia
Peckoltia bachi is a species
of catfish
of the genus
Peckoltia
.
and its tributaries in Brazil
, Colombia
, Ecuador
, and Peru
.
P. bachi is found at the edge of medium to large rivers among submerged twigs and grasses, usually in flow. They may use their pelvic fins to hold onto these twigs and grasses, similar to species of Hypoptopoma
.
s at all ages; in other species of Peckoltia, there generally are not many odontodes on the opercle, and they disappear with size. P. bachi has a tan base color and spotting or spots on the body and fins. P. bachi and P. caenosa are the only species that are mottled instead of having dorsal saddles or spots. P. bachi can be distinguished from P. caenosa by having diffuse, large spots on the head and no markings on the abdomen; P. caenosa has vermiculations on the head and body.
Males may have hypertrophied odontodes on the sides of the body and the posterior portion of the head.
There is some variation in coloration between populations.
P. bachi has a noticeably different form from all other members of the Hypostominae
, but recognizing it in its own genus, as it has been in the past, is unjustified.
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
of catfish
Catfish
Catfishes are a diverse group of ray-finned fish. Named for their prominent barbels, which resemble a cat's whiskers, catfish range in size and behavior from the heaviest and longest, the Mekong giant catfish from Southeast Asia and the second longest, the wels catfish of Eurasia, to detritivores...
of the genus
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
Peckoltia
Peckoltia
Peckoltia is a genus of small South American armored suckermouth catfishes. Many of these fish are popular aquarium fish.-Taxonomy:Peckoltia is a basal genus within the tribe Ancistrini of the subfamily Hypostominae. This genus is paraphyletic...
.
Distribution and habitat
P. bachi is found throughout the upper Amazon RiverAmazon River
The Amazon of South America is the second longest river in the world and by far the largest by waterflow with an average discharge greater than the next seven largest rivers combined...
and its tributaries in Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
, Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
, Ecuador
Ecuador
Ecuador , officially the Republic of Ecuador is a representative democratic republic in South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and by the Pacific Ocean to the west. It is one of only two countries in South America, along with Chile, that do not have a border...
, and Peru
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
.
P. bachi is found at the edge of medium to large rivers among submerged twigs and grasses, usually in flow. They may use their pelvic fins to hold onto these twigs and grasses, similar to species of Hypoptopoma
Hypoptopoma
Hypoptopoma is a genus of catfishes of the family Loricariidae.-Taxonomy:The genus was established by Albert C. L. G. Günther in 1868 for his new species H. thoracatum, on the basis of the peculiar, depressed, spatulate formation of the head with the eyes on the lateral edges of the head...
.
Appearance and anatomy
P. bachi can be distinguished from all other species of Peckoltia because of a number of traits. It is the only Peckoltia that is able to fold its pelvic fins so that the pelvic fin spines can run parallel to the underside of its body. It also has wider pelvic fin spines than other species. Also, its eyes are low on its head. These traits make this fish appear similar to Hypoptopoma. Their opercle also generally have a patch of odontodeOdontode
Odontodes, or dermal teeth, are hard structures found on the external surfaces of animals or near internal openings. They comprise a soft pulp surrounded by dentine and covered by a mineralized substance such as enamel, a structure similar to that of teeth. They generally do not have the same...
s at all ages; in other species of Peckoltia, there generally are not many odontodes on the opercle, and they disappear with size. P. bachi has a tan base color and spotting or spots on the body and fins. P. bachi and P. caenosa are the only species that are mottled instead of having dorsal saddles or spots. P. bachi can be distinguished from P. caenosa by having diffuse, large spots on the head and no markings on the abdomen; P. caenosa has vermiculations on the head and body.
Males may have hypertrophied odontodes on the sides of the body and the posterior portion of the head.
There is some variation in coloration between populations.
P. bachi has a noticeably different form from all other members of the Hypostominae
Hypostominae
Hypostominae is a subfamily of catfishes of the family Loricariidae.Studies conducted with representatives of some genera of Hypostominae showed that within thisgroup, the diploid number ranges from 2n = 52 to 2n = 80...
, but recognizing it in its own genus, as it has been in the past, is unjustified.