Lyre-tail pleco facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lyre-tail pleco |
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| From the Xingu River (Altamira, Pará, Brazil) | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Acanthicus
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| Species: |
hystrix
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The lyre-tail pleco, also known as Acanthicus hystrix, is a type of armored catfish. It lives in the big rivers of South America, like the Amazon, Tocantins–Araguaia, and Orinoco basins. This fish usually lives on rocky or gravelly riverbeds, often where the water flows moderately or strongly. However, it can also be found in areas with slower currents.
Sometimes, you might see the lyre-tail pleco for sale in pet stores. But it's important to know that these fish grow very large. They also like to protect their space, which means they need a really big aquarium to be happy and healthy.
What Does It Look Like?
The lyre-tail pleco can grow to about 62.8 cm (2.06 ft) long, measured from its snout to the base of its tail. Some scientists think it might even reach up to 100 cm (3.3 ft) in length!
Its color can be anything from a medium brown to almost black. Fish from rivers like the Madeira, Branco, and Xingu are often very dark. The underside of the fish sometimes has a wavy, worm-like pattern.
Some people who keep aquariums might think that different colored lyre-tail plecos are separate species. For example, they might call a dark one from the Orinoco basin "L193" or one from the Branco basin "L407." These are just special numbers used in the aquarium hobby. However, scientists have found that these different-looking fish are actually the same species.
Unlike its cousin, the polka dot lyre-tail pleco (A. adonis), the A. hystrix never has white spots. Adult male lyre-tail plecos are especially spiny. They have many sharp, tooth-like growths called odontodes on their cheeks and gill covers.
See also
In Spanish: Acanthicus hystrix para niños
