Pseudoqolus koko (Fisch-Muller & Covain, 2012)
photo by Fisch-Muller, S.

Family:  Loricariidae (Armored catfishes), subfamily: Hypostominae
Max. size:  9.01 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  demersal; freshwater
Distribution:  South America: upper Maroni River basin.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 2-2; Dorsal soft rays (total): 7-7; Anal spines: 1-1; Anal soft rays: 5-5. This species is distinguished by its large and almost spoon-shaped teeth characteristic of Panaqolus but bifid instead of most generally unicuspid in congeners, and characterized by its specific barcode sequence (JF747003). Differs also from all other congeners except Panaqolus dentex and P. nocturnus by having a uniformly blackish-brown coloration (vs. banded pattern of coloration in P. purusiensis, P. gnomus, P. maccus, and P. changae; or spotted pattern of coloration in P. albomaculatus). It can be separated from Panaqolus dentex by having dark pigment on membrane and branched rays of all fins, as well as a smaller interorbital width (29.4-33.2% HL, mean 31.6, vs. 38.7), a shorter pectoral spine (29.8-31.3% HL, mean 30.3, vs. 34.8) and a greater caudal peduncle depth (12.0-13.4% SL, mean 12.9, vs. 10.8). It is readily distinguished from Panaqolus nocturnus by having larger eye (orbit length 18.8-20.8% HL vs. 13.7-15.9) (Ref. 90183).
Biology:  Found in main river channel on a stony substrate at two meters depth (Ref. 90183). Collected together with the hypostomins Hemiancistrus medians, Peckoltia otali and Pseudancistrus barbatus, and with the loricariins Harttia guianensis, Loricaria cataphracta and Rineloricaria stewarti (Ref. 90183). The gut contents of one specimen consisted mostly of intact sponge fragments and spicules (Ref. 117193).
IUCN Red List Status: Data deficient (DD); Date assessed: 19 October 2020 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


Source and more info: www.fishbase.org. For personal, classroom, and other internal use only. Not for publication.