Loricaria luciae facts for kids

Loricaria luciae, also known as Lucia's whiptail, is a type of catfish. It belongs to the Loricariidae family, which includes many armored catfish. This fish lives in South America. It was first described by scientists in 2013.

About Lucia's Whiptail

Lucia's whiptail is a unique fish. It can grow up to about 18.9 centimeters (7.4 inches) long. This measurement is called its standard length. It means the length from its snout to the base of its tail fin. Scientists believe this fish can breathe air sometimes. This is called being a facultative air-breather. It means it can breathe air if it needs to, but it doesn't always have to.

Where Lucia's Whiptail Lives

This fish is found in the Paraguay River basin. This large river system flows through several countries. You can find Lucia's whiptail in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, and Paraguay. Its home ranges from the Miranda River to the Pantanal wetlands. It lives in places with flowing water. These can be small streams, called arroyos, or large rivers. It usually stays in water less than 1.5 meters (5 feet) deep. It prefers areas with soft ground, like mud or sand. Sometimes, it can be seen in fast-moving parts of rivers called riffles. It also lives in blackwater areas. These are rivers with dark, tea-colored water.

How It Got Its Name

The scientific name for this fish is Loricaria luciae. The second part of its name, luciae, is special. It honors a scientist named Lúcia H. Rapp Py-Daniel. She works at the National Institute of Amazonian Research. She has made many important discoveries about loricariid fish. Her work helps us understand how these fish are related. It also helps us classify them correctly. This field of study is called taxonomy and systematics.