Hypostomus peckoltoides facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Hypostomus peckoltoides |
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The Hypostomus peckoltoides is a type of catfish that belongs to the Loricariidae family. This family is known for its armored catfish. This fish lives in South America, specifically in the Cuiabá River in Brazil. This river is part of the upper Paraguay River basin.
You can usually find Hypostomus peckoltoides in places where the water is a bit cloudy. They like areas with a mix of rocks and sand on the riverbed. They also live near different kinds of plants that grow along the riverbanks.
What Does It Look Like?
The Hypostomus peckoltoides can grow to be at least 11.1 centimeters (about 4.4 inches) long. Some reports say they can even reach up to 30 centimeters (nearly 12 inches)! This fish is also special because it can breathe air if it needs to, which is called being a "facultative air-breather."
Why Is It Called Peckoltoides?
The second part of its scientific name, peckoltoides, means "like Peckoltia". This is because the Hypostomus peckoltoides looks a lot like some fish from the Peckoltia genus. Both types of fish have dark, saddle-like patterns on their bodies, which helps them blend in with their surroundings.
Popular in Aquariums
This interesting fish is also known in the world of pet aquariums. People often call it the giraffe pleco because of its spotted pattern. It also has a special code, L-390, which is used by fish enthusiasts to identify it.
