Pseudolithoxus kinja Bifi, de Oliveira, Rapp Py-Daniel & Collins, 2018

Family:  Loricariidae (Armored catfishes), subfamily: Hypostominae
Max. size:  15.31 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  demersal; freshwater; depth range 1 - 2 m
Distribution:  South America: Brazil.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 2-2; Dorsal soft rays (total): 7-7; Vertebrae: 28-28. This species is distinguished from its congeners by the following characters: a colour pattern of large pale spots on a dark background (vs. pale bands on a dark background in P. kelsorum, P. tigris; small pale dots on a dark background in P. anthrax, P. nicoi; dark spots on a lighter background in P. dumus); differs further from P. anthrax, P. nicoi by having dark bands on the caudal fin (vs. none) and by the cleithral width 30.0-33.5% SL (vs. 27.2-30.5% in P. anthrax and 27.0-28.6% in P. nicoi (Ref. 119352).
Biology:  Collected in shallow (depth <1.5 m), fast-flowing water over a substrate of eroded bedrock, living among narrow cracks between rocks, and were abundant at the sampling site. However, this type of habitat was not frequently encountered on the lower Nhamunda, and the species was not found associated with more common woody-debris sites, or rocky sites lacking any appreciable water current. Water temperature 28.3C and conductivity 6 mS/cm. Syntopic fishes encountered during the night survey were species of Leporinus, Symphysodon, Cichla, Pimelodella, Tatia, Dekeyseria, Peckoltia, Lasiancistrus, and this species was the dominant loricariid in this habitat (Ref. 119352).
IUCN Red List Status: Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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