Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 5, 2026

Spectracanthicus

Spectracanthicus is a genus of suckermouth armored catfish endemic to the Tapajós, Xingu and Tocantins river basins in Brazil where often found in fast-flowing waters. The largest species in the genus reaches up to 13 cm (5.1 in) in standard length. They feed on algae and small invertebrates.

Last revised
Jul 5, 2026
Read time
≈ 1 min
Length
224 w
Citations
6
Source
Wikipedia ↗
Spectracanthicus
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Siluriformes
Family: Loricariidae
Tribe: Ancistrini
Genus: Spectracanthicus
Nijssen & Isbrücker, 1987
Type species
Spectracanthicus murinus
Nijssen & Isbrücker, 1987
Synonyms
  • Oligancistrus Rapp Py-Daniel, 1989

Spectracanthicus is a genus of suckermouth armored catfish endemic to the Tapajós, Xingu and Tocantins river basins in Brazil where often found in fast-flowing waters.12 The largest species in the genus reaches up to 13 cm (5.1 in) in standard length.3 They feed on algae and small invertebrates.3

Species

There are currently six recognized species in this genus:14

References

References

  1. Chamon, C.C. & Rapp Py-Daniel, L.H. (2014): Taxonomic revision of Spectracanthicus Nijssen & Isbrücker (Loricariidae: Hypostominae: Ancistrini), with description of three new species. Neotropical Ichthyology, 12 (1): 1-26.
  2. Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Species in genus Spectracanthicus". FishBase. October 2017 version.
  3. van der Sleen, P.; J.S. Albert, eds. (2017). Field Guide to the Fishes of the Amazon, Orinoco, and Guianas. Princeton University Press. p. 267. ISBN 978-0691170749.
  4. Fricke, Ron; Eschmeyer, William N. & van der Laan, Richard (eds.). "Species in the genus Spectracanthicus". Catalog of Fishes. California Academy of Sciences. Retrieved 9 September 2025.