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Algae Eater
Algae eater or algivore is a common name for any bottom-dwelling or filter-feeding aquatic animal species that specialize in feeding on algae and phytoplanktons. Algae eaters are important for the fishkeeping hobby and many are commonly kept by aquarium hobbyists to improve water quality. They are also important primary consumers that relay the biomass and energy from photosynthetic autotrophes up into the food web, as well as protecting the aquatic ecosystem against algae blooms. Freshwater Fish Some of the common and most popular freshwater aquarium algae eaters include: * Many loricariid catfish of South America, such as genera '' Otocinclus'', '' Ancistrus'', and '' Plecostomus'', constantly graze algae and biofilm, although many species of "plecos", which attain an adult length of over 10 inches, eat much less frequently as they near adulthood. * The Siamese algae eater (''Crossocheilus oblongus'') is a more gregarious and tolerant cyprinid that ranges up to . It is ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Common Name
In biology, a common name of a taxon or organism (also known as a vernacular name, English name, colloquial name, country name, popular name, or farmer's name) is a name that is based on the normal language of everyday life; and is often contrasted with the scientific name for the same organism, which is Latinized. A common name is sometimes frequently used, but that is not always the case. In chemistry, IUPAC defines a common name as one that, although it unambiguously defines a chemical, does not follow the current systematic naming convention, such as acetone, systematically 2-propanone, while a vernacular name describes one used in a lab, trade or industry that does not unambiguously describe a single chemical, such as copper sulfate, which may refer to either copper(I) sulfate or copper(II) sulfate. Sometimes common names are created by authorities on one particular subject, in an attempt to make it possible for members of the general public (including such interested part ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Pterygoplichthys Joselimaianus Albino Ventral L-001 C
''Pterygoplichthys'', sometimes collectively known as janitor fish, is a genus of South American armored catfishes. These fish are commonly known as sailfin armoured catfish or sailfin plecs, especially in the aquarium trade. Etymology ''Pterygoplichthys'' is derived from the Greek ''πτέρυγ-'' (''pteryg-''), meaning "wing", (''hoplon'') - weapon and ''ἰχθύς'' (''ichthys'') meaning "fish". Taxonomy ''Pterygoplichthys'' has undergone much shifting in the past decades. Previously ''Liposarcus'', ''Glyptoperichthys'' and ''Pterygoplichthys'' had been named as separate genera. Since then, these genera were recognized as synonyms of ''Pterygoplichthys'' by Armbruster, as the few differences between the genera were not deemed great enough to validate ''Glyptoperichthys'' and ''Liposarcus'', and that recognizing these separate genera would leave neither ''Pterygoplichthys'' nor ''Glyptoperichthys'' as monophyletic. Species There are currently 16 recognized species in thi ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Gyrinocheilus
''Gyrinocheilus'' is the single genus in the family Gyrinocheilidae, a family of small Southeast Asian cypriniform fishes that live in fast-flowing freshwater mountain streams. The species in this genus are commonly called "algae eaters." They hold on to fixed objects using a sucker-like mouth, and, despite the name, feed on a wide range of detritus, rather than simply on algae. A "golden" variety of ''G. aymonieri'', the Chinese algae eater or "sucking loach", can be found in many pet shops and fish farms. Sucker The mouths of these fish have developed into a suckermouth, which allows the fish to cling onto objects in the fast-moving water of their habitat. They therefore stay close to the bottom, where their primary food, algae, is more readily available. Uniquely among fish, members of this family have gill slits with two openings each. Water enters through one opening, and leaves through the other. This allows the fish to breathe without having to take water in through the ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Red Alga
Red algae, or Rhodophyta (, ; ), are one of the oldest groups of eukaryotic algae. The Rhodophyta also comprises one of the largest phyla of algae, containing over 7,000 currently recognized species with taxonomic revisions ongoing. The majority of species (6,793) are found in the Florideophyceae (class), and mostly consist of multicellular, marine algae, including many notable seaweeds. Red algae are abundant in marine habitats but relatively rare in freshwaters. Approximately 5% of red algae species occur in freshwater environments, with greater concentrations found in warmer areas. Except for two coastal cave dwelling species in the asexual class Cyanidiophyceae, there are no terrestrial species, which may be due to an evolutionary bottleneck in which the last common ancestor lost about 25% of its core genes and much of its evolutionary plasticity. The red algae form a distinct group characterized by having eukaryotic cells without flagella and centrioles, chloroplasts that ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Audouinella
''Audouinella'', also known as black algae, is a widespread genus of red algae, found in marine and freshwater environments. The form known as "''black brush algae''" (or "''black beard algae''", ''BBA'' for short) is a particular nuisance in aquaria, since most algae eater fish and invertebrates avoid it. Description J.B. Bory de Saint-Vincent named the genus in 1823, in honour of his co-editor in the ''Dictionnaire Classique d'Histoire Naturelle'', J.V. Audouin. Black algae species are not all black; they grow as small tufts of red, brown, or black hairlike filaments on any solid surface – most dramatically in freshwater, on the edges of slow-growing leaves. Its thalli are composed of uniaxial filaments, the ends of which often contain elongate hairs. ''Audouinella'' reproduce via spores, most commonly asexually, while sexual reproduction is known in rare cases. Black algae are typically tolerant of high levels of pollution, acidity, and thrive on dissolved phosphate ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Cyprinid
Cyprinidae is a family of freshwater fish commonly called the carp or minnow family. It includes the carps, the true minnows, and relatives like the barbs and barbels. Cyprinidae is the largest and most diverse fish family and the largest vertebrate animal family in general with about 3,000 species, of which only 1,270 remain extant, divided into about 370 genera. Cyprinids range from about 12 mm in size to the giant barb (''Catlocarpio siamensis''). By genus and species count, the family makes up more than two-thirds of the ostariophysian order Cypriniformes. The family name is derived from the Greek word ( 'carp'). Biology and ecology Cyprinids are stomachless fish with toothless jaws. Even so, food can be effectively chewed by the gill rakers of the specialized last gill bow. These pharyngeal teeth allow the fish to make chewing motions against a chewing plate formed by a bony process of the skull. The pharyngeal teeth are unique to each species and are us ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Siamese Algae Eater
The Siamese algae-eater (''Crossocheilus oblongus'') is a species of freshwater fish in the carp family, Cyprinidae. This bottom-dwelling tropical fish is found in mainland Southeast Asia, including the Chao Phraya and Mekong basins as well as the Malay Peninsula. Its natural habitats are streams and rivers as well as flooded forests during the rainy season. The Siamese algae-eater should not be confused with the flying fox (''Epalzeorhynchos kalopterus'') or the false siamensis (''Garra cambodgiensis''), lacking the distinctive black bands of the former. Description The Siamese algae-eater has a black horizontal stripe extending from nose to tail. The stripe can quickly fade to camouflage the fish against its surroundings, which is observed during fights or stress. Genuine ''Crossocheilus siamensis'', without maxillary barbels and with deeply fringed V-shaped upper lip are rarely encountered in the aquarium trade. Siamese algae-eaters can grow up to 15 centimetres (6 inc ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Biofilm
A biofilm comprises any syntrophic consortium of microorganisms in which cells stick to each other and often also to a surface. These adherent cells become embedded within a slimy extracellular matrix that is composed of extracellular polymeric substances (EPSs). The cells within the biofilm produce the EPS components, which are typically a polymeric conglomeration of extracellular polysaccharides, proteins, lipids and DNA. Because they have three-dimensional structure and represent a community lifestyle for microorganisms, they have been metaphorically described as "cities for microbes". Biofilms may form on living or non-living surfaces and can be prevalent in natural, industrial, and hospital settings. They may constitute a microbiome or be a portion of it. The microbial cells growing in a biofilm are physiologically distinct from planktonic cells of the same organism, which, by contrast, are single cells that may float or swim in a liquid medium. Biofilms can f ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Plecostomus , often incorrectly called "bristlenose pleco"
{{Animal common name ...
Plecostomus, pleco, or plec is the common name of several species of freshwater loricariid catfish commonly sold as aquarium fish. These include: *''Hypostomus plecostomus'' *'' Hypostomus punctatus'' *'' Pterygoplichthys multiradiatus'' *'' Pterygoplichthys pardalis'' *'' Panaqolus maccus'' It is also used as part of the common names of various similar species of loricariids. The superficially similar loach Beaufortia kweichowensis is also sometimes known as the "butterfly plec", despite not being closely related to the Loracariidae. See also * Loricariidae * Ancistrus ''Ancistrus'' is a genus of nocturnal freshwater fish in the family Loricariidae of order Siluriformes, native to freshwater habitats in South America and Panama. Fish of this genus are common in the aquarium trade where they are known as bushyn ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ancistrus
''Ancistrus'' is a genus of nocturnal freshwater fish in the family Loricariidae of order Siluriformes, native to freshwater habitats in South America and Panama. Fish of this genus are common in the aquarium trade where they are known as bushynose or bristlenose catfish. In the aquarium hobby they are often referred to as bushynose or bristlenose plecos instead, but this may lead to confusion as "pleco" usually is used for '' Hypostomus plecostomus'' and its allies and is often used as a catchall term for any loricariids remotely resembling that species. Taxonomy The type species is ''Ancistrus cirrhosus''. This genus is the largest genus within the tribe Ancistrini. The name ancistrus derives from the Ancient Greek ''agkistron'' "hook" – a reference to the form of the cheek odontodes. The genera ''Pristiancistrus'', ''Thysanocara'' and ''Xenocara'' are now synonyms of ''Ancistrus''. Description ''Ancistrus'' species show all the typical features of the Loricariidae ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Otocinclus
''Otocinclus'' is a genus of catfish in the family Loricariidae native to South America, commonly known as "dwarf suckers" or "otos". This genus, like other loricariids, is characterized by rows of armour plating covering the body, as well as the underslung suckermouth. They are generally small in size; ''O. tapirape'' is the smallest of the species (2.4 cm), while ''O. flexilis'' is the biggest (5.5 cm). These species have adaptations that allow them to breathe air. A duct forms at the junction between the esophagus and the stomach and expands into an enlarged, ring-like diverticulum, characteristic of this genus, which allows air-breathing.Armbruster, J.W. (1998)Modifications of the Digestive Tract for Holding Air in Loricariid and Scoloplacid Catfishes.''Copeia, 1998 (3): 663–675.'' ''Otocinclus'' are popular aquarium fish, and they are often purchased as algae eaters. It is difficult to breed them in captivity, and only wild caught ''Otocinclus'' are available ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
South America
South America is a continent entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere at the northern tip of the continent. It can also be described as the southern subregion of a single continent called America. South America is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east by the Atlantic Ocean; North America and the Caribbean Sea lie to the northwest. The continent generally includes twelve sovereign states: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay, and Venezuela; two dependent territories: the Falkland Islands and South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands; and one internal territory: French Guiana. In addition, the ABC islands of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Ascension Island (dependency of Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha, a British Overseas Territory), Bouvet Island ( dependency ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
