Neblinichthys peniculatus Armbruster & Taphorn, 2013

Family:  Loricariidae (Armored catfishes), subfamily: Hypostominae
Max. size:  8.13 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  demersal; freshwater
Distribution:  South America: Río Carapo of the middle río Paragua in Venezuela.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 2-2; Dorsal soft rays (total): 7-7; Anal spines: 1-1; Anal soft rays: 5-5. Distinguished from all species of Neblinichthys by having the following characters: mottling on the caudal peduncle consisting of dark spots and dashes; spots on the head; and hypertrophied snout odontodes are rather short, none as large as the eye diameter. Also differs from other congeners by the following combination of characters: iris operculum; odontodes on the opercle; and internares 3.9-4.6% HL; no spots (or at best very faint spots on a light background) on the abdomen of adult males; a rectangular dark blotch at the base of the caudal fin; internares width 10.5-12.4% HL; postanal length 28.5-30.6% SL; one preadipose plate with the adipose membrane conspicuous; and greater than 20 evertible cheek odontodes; five rays on anal fin; and large spots on the fins that clearly proceed onto the membranes; four to five bands or rows of spots in the caudal fin; and predorsal length/postanal length ratio 150.1-164.6% (Ref. 93221).
Biology:  Found rio Carapo with rapids complex. Collected from 100 m above the lower extent of the rapids as well as a rapids complex further upstream (Ref. 93221).
IUCN Red List Status: Data deficient (DD); Date assessed: 25 May 2017 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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