Pseudoloricaria

Pseudoloricaria
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Siluriformes
Family: Loricariidae
Subfamily: Loricariinae
Genus: Pseudoloricaria
Bleeker, 1862[2]
Species:
P. laeviuscula
Binomial name
Pseudoloricaria laeviuscula
Synonyms[3]

Loricaria laeviuscula
Valenciennes, 1840

Pseudoloricaria is a monospecific genus of freshwater ray-finned fish belonging to the family Loricariidae, the mailed catfishes, and the subfamily Loricariinae, the armored suckermouth catfishes.[2][4] The only species in the genus is Pseudoloricaria laeviuscula, Valenciennes' whiptail catfish. The phylogenetic position of Pseudoloricaria is uncertain.[4]

This species is endemic to Brazil where it is found in the middle and lower Amazon basin, including the Negro and Branco Rivers.[4][5] P. laeviuscula is found over sandy bottoms, in clear waters, in the main flow of rivers, and in neighboring temporary ponds.[4]

Pseudoloricaria laeviuscula reaches a length of 30.5 centimetres (12.0 in) SL.[5] Although reproductive habits are unknown, this species is probably a lip brooder.[4] Sexual dimorphism includes hypertrophied development of the lower lip suggesting that P. laeviuscula is a lip brooder.[4] This species shows derived features such as a reduction in size and number of teeth, premaxillary teeth absent, a circular head shape, and eyes reduced in size without iris operculum.[4]

References

  1. ^ Instituto Chico Mendes de Conservação da Biodiversidade (ICMBio) (2022). "Pseudoloricaria laeviuscula". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (in Brazilian Portuguese). 2022 e.T140707816A140707826. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2022-1.RLTS.T140707816A140707826.pt. Retrieved 14 September 2025.
  2. ^ a b c Fricke, Ron; Eschmeyer, William N. & van der Laan, Richard (eds.). "Genera in the family Loricariinae". Catalog of Fishes. California Academy of Sciences. Retrieved 2 March 2026.
  3. ^ Fricke, Ron; Eschmeyer, William N. & van der Laan, Richard (eds.). "Species in the genus Pseudoloricaria". Catalog of Fishes. California Academy of Sciences. Retrieved 2 March 2026.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g Covain, Raphael; Fisch-Muller, Sonia (2007). "The genera of the Neotropical armored catfish subfamily Loricariinae (Siluriformes: Loricariidae): a practical key and synopsis" (PDF). Zootaxa. 1462: 1–40. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.1462.1.1.
  5. ^ a b Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Pseudoloricaria laeviuscula". FishBase. December 2011 version.