Common names from other countries
Teleostei (teleosts) >
Siluriformes (Catfishes) >
Loricariidae (Armored catfishes) > Hypostominae
Etymology: Pterygoplichthys: Greek, pterygion, diminutive of pteryx = wing, fin + Greek, hoplon = weapon + Greek, ichthys = fish (Ref. 45335).
More on author: Castelnau.
Issue
New combination in Günther (1864:239). Eto-ecology and economic value in Serpa (1967); redescription with new synonyms in Weber (1992:10).
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; demersal; pH range: 7.0 - 7.5; dH range: 10 - 20. Tropical; 23°C - 28°C (Ref. 13614)
South America: Lower, middle and upper Amazon River basin. Introduced to countries outside its native range.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 57.8 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 126024); max. published weight: 655.30 g (Ref. 125975)
Facultative air-breathing (Ref. 126274); Facultative air breather.
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturities | Reproduction | Spawnings | Egg(s) | Fecundities | Larvae
Burgess, W.E., 1989. An atlas of freshwater and marine catfishes. A preliminary survey of the Siluriformes. T.F.H. Publications, Inc., Neptune City, New Jersey (USA). 784 p. (Ref. 6868)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435)
CITES (Ref. 128078)
Not Evaluated
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: minor commercial; aquarium: commercial
Tools
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Internet sources
Estimates based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.5000 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.02344 (0.01711 - 0.03212), b=2.96 (2.92 - 3.00), in cm Total Length, based on LWR estimates for this species (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 2.0 ±0.00 se; based on food items.
Resilience (Ref.
120179): Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Moderate vulnerability (43 of 100).