Coal pleco facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Coal pleco
The shallow-water form of the species.
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Siluriformes
Family:	Loricariidae
Subfamily:	Hypostominae
Tribe:	Ancistrini
Genus:	Peckoltia
Species:	P. pankimpuju
Binomial name
Peckoltia pankimpuju Lujan & Chamon, 2008
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Synonyms
Hemiancistrus pankimpuju Lujan & Chamon, 2008

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Peckoltia pankimpuju is a type of armored catfish. It belongs to the Loricariidae family. This fish lives in the Marañón River in Peru. This river is part of the upper Amazon basin.

People often call this fish the coal pleco. Other names include Peruvian lyre-tail and L350. The L-number code helps identify different types of catfish. This fish can grow to about 40 centimeters (16 inches) long.

Unique Features of the Coal Pleco

The Peckoltia pankimpuju is special. It can live in two different forms. One form lives in deep water. These fish have less color and smaller eyes. They are a bit like cavefish. The other form lives in shallower waters. These fish look "normal" with regular color and eyes.

Tail Streamers: A Warning System

P. pankimpuju also has very long, flowing parts on its tail. These are called "streamers." Other catfish in large South American rivers have them too. Scientists think these streamers help the fish stay safe.

Imagine a large predator fish hunting. The Peckoltia pankimpuju usually faces the water current. This is typical for armored catfish. If a big predator swims against the current, it will touch the long tail streamers first. This gives the P. pankimpuju an early warning. It might then have time to swim away and escape danger.

See also

In Spanish: Hemiancistrus pankimpuju para niños