Spectracanthicus zuanoni Chamon & Rapp Py-Daniel 2014

This is distinguished from other species of Spectracanthicus by its color pattern consisting of large, white spots (vs. small yellowish dots in S. murinus, S. punctatissimus, and S. tocantinensis, and dark gray lacking dots in S. immaculatus). It also differs from congeners, except S. murinus, by having larger orbital diameter up to 29.2% of HL (vs. up to 25.7% in S. punctatissimus, 20.3% in S. tocantinensis, 16.2% in S. immaculatus). It can be further separated from S. murinus by having rounded dorsal view of the snout, bar-shaped, eversible opercle with conspicuous odontodes, and four unbranched anal-fin rays (vs. snout slightly pointed; opercle triangle-shaped, not eversible, lacking conspicuous odontodes; three anal-fin unbranched rays); from S. tocantinensis by having 19-43 dentary teeth (vs. 8-16) and by the infraorbital 4 forming just a small area of orbit (vs. forming posterior edge of orbit almost totally) (Ref. 95496).Description: Dorsal-fin rays i,7; anal-fin rays i,4; pectoral-fin rays i,6; pelvic-fin rays i,5; dorsal-fin spinelet V-shaped with locking mechanism; dorsal-fin base very long, its length equivalent to 12 dorsal plates, reaching pre-adipose plate and connected to adipose fin by thick membrane.(Ref. 95496).

Dorsal soft rays (total): 8; Analsoft rays: 5; Vertebrae: 26

Feeds actively at night on algae and other food items off periphyton by grazing over rock bottom. Found in rock-bottom areas subjected to backwater and strong currents. Occurs individually or in groups of three, under shelter boulders (adults) and spaces beneath rocks (juveniles), up to 2m deep. Juveniles co-inhabit with other loricariids such as Ancistrus sp., A. ranunculus, Baryancistrus xanthellus, Spectracanthicus punctatissimus, Hopliancistrus tricornis, Parancistrus nudiventris, Peckoltia vittata, and Pseudancistrus aff. barbatus (Ref. 95496).

Feeds actively at night on algae and other food items off periphyton by grazing over rock bottom. Found in rock-bottom areas subjected to backwater and strong currents. Occurs individually or in groups of three, under shelter boulders (adults) and spaces beneath rocks (juveniles), up to 2m deep. Juveniles co-inhabit with other loricariids such as Ancistrus sp., A. ranunculus, Baryancistrus xanthellus, Spectracanthicus punctatissimus, Hopliancistrus tricornis, Parancistrus nudiventris, Peckoltia vittata, and Pseudancistrus aff. barbatus (Ref. 95496).

aquarium: commercial

Spectracanthicus zuanoni is a species of catfish in the family Loricariidae. It is native to South America, where it occurs in the Xingu River basin in the state of Pará in Brazil. It is usually found in areas up to 2 m (7 ft) deep with strong currents and rocky substrates, where it is often seen hiding beneath rocks. It is known to occur individually or in groups of three, with juveniles being found alongside other loricariid species, such as Ancistrus ranunculus, Baryancistrus xanthellus, Hopliancistrus tricornis, Parancistrus nudiventris, Peckoltia vittata, and its congener Spectracanthicus punctatissimus.

S. zuanoni is nocturnal, feeding actively on algae and periphyton at night. It reaches 12.9 cm (5.1 inches) SL, and its specific epithet, zuanoni, refers to Jansen Zuanon, the first ichthyologist to collect the species. S. zuanoni appears in the aquarium trade, where it is usually referred to either as the acari bola branca or by its associated L-number, which is L-020.