Hypostomus leucophaeus Zanata & Pitanga 2016

Hypostomus leucophaeus can be differentiated from most congeners by having the lower caudal-fin lobe distinctly longer than the upper lobe, presence of a roughly triangular patch of platelets on ventral surface of body, and absence of conspicuous dark spots on posterior half of body. It is distinguished from congeners from northeastern coastal Brazilian drainages and the rio São Francisco basin by having the anterior portion of the abdomen completely plated and the posterior portion plated only on a narrow median line, leaving large lateral areas naked, dark spots on anterior portion of trunk similar in size or slightly larger than those on head, absence of conspicuous spots on posterior half of trunk and caudal fin, and absence of keels on head and trunk (Ref. 110236).

Dorsal spines (total): 2; Dorsal soft rays (total): 7; Analspines: 1; Analsoft rays: 3 - 4; Vertebrae: 31

Collected from the rio Itapicuru and its tributaries, in stretches of up to 50 m wide and 1.8 m deep, with rocky bottom, usually clear water, moderate to fast water current, and at altitudes ranging from 38 to 449 meters above sea level (Ref. 110236).

Hypostomus leucophaeus is a species of catfish in the family Loricariidae. It is native to South America, where it occurs in the Itapicuru River basin in the state of Bahia in Brazil. It is typically seen in stretches of rivers up to 50 m (160 ft) (164 ft) wide and 1.8 m (5.9 ft) deep, with clear water, rocky substrates, moderate to fast current, and an altitude of 38 to 449 m (125 to 1,473 ft) above sea level. The species reaches 15.8 cm (6.2 in) in standard length. Its specific epithet, leucophaeus, is derived from Latin and means "ash-colored", in reference to the general coloration and patterning of the species.