''Pterygoplichthys multiradiatus'' is one of several

tropical The tropics are the regions of Earth surrounding the equator, where the sun may shine directly overhead. This contrasts with the temperate or polar regions of Earth, where the Sun can never be directly overhead. This is because of Earth's ax ...

fish A fish (: fish or fishes) is an aquatic animal, aquatic, Anamniotes, anamniotic, gill-bearing vertebrate animal with swimming fish fin, fins and craniate, a hard skull, but lacking limb (anatomy), limbs with digit (anatomy), digits. Fish can ...

commonly known as Orinoco sailfin catfish,

plecostomus Plecostomus, pleco, or plec is the common name of several species of freshwater loricariid catfish commonly sold as aquarium fish. These include: *''Pterygoplichthys gibbiceps *''Hypostomus plecostomus'' *'' Hypostomus punctatus'' *''Pterygoplic ...

(or plecos). It belongs to the armored catfish family (

Loricariidae Loricariidae is the largest family (biology), family of catfish (order Siluriformes), with over 90 genus, genera and just over 680 species. Loricariids originate from freshwater habitats of Costa Rica, Panama, and tropical and subtropical South A ...

). Named for its sail-like

dorsal fin A dorsal fin is a fin on the back of most marine and freshwater vertebrates. Dorsal fins have evolved independently several times through convergent evolution adapting to marine environments, so the fins are not all homologous. They are found ...

, the part of its scientific name ''multiradiatus'' means "many-rayed" and refers to the rays of the

. ''P. multiradiatus'' is one of a number of species commonly referred to as the

common pleco ''Hypostomus plecostomus'', also known as the suckermouth catfish or common pleco, is a tropical freshwater fish belonging to the armored catfish family (Loricariidae), named for the longitudinal rows of armor-like scutes that cover the upper p ...

aquarist An aquarist is a person who manages aquariums, either professionally or as a hobby. They typically care for aquatic animals, including fish and marine invertebrates. Some may care for aquatic mammals. Aquarists often work at public aquariums. They ...

s. Other scientific names that were used (as synonyms) for ''P. multiradiatus'' include ''Hypostomus multiradiatus'', ''Ancistrus multiradiatus'', and ''Liposarcus multiradiatus''. ''P. multiradiatus'' is sometimes confused with ''

Pterygoplichthys pardalis ''Pterygoplichthys pardalis'', the Amazon sailfin catfish, is a freshwater tropical fish in the armored catfish family (Loricariidae). It is one of a number of species commonly referred to as the common pleco or "leopard pleco" by aquarists.It c ...

'', which is a different species of pleco. ''P. multiradiatus'' goes by a number of common names. It can be called the "long-fin armored catfish" in

Hawaii Hawaii ( ; ) is an island U.S. state, state of the United States, in the Pacific Ocean about southwest of the U.S. mainland. One of the two Non-contiguous United States, non-contiguous U.S. states (along with Alaska), it is the only sta ...

, "sailfin catfish", "sailfish catfish", "many-rayed (multiradiatus) pleco" or "radiated ptero" in the United States, 多輻翼甲鯰 in

Mandarin Chinese Mandarin ( ; zh, s=, t=, p=Guānhuà, l=Mandarin (bureaucrat), officials' speech) is the largest branch of the Sinitic languages. Mandarin varieties are spoken by 70 percent of all Chinese speakers over a large geographical area that stretch ...

. ''P. multiradiatus'' is mottled brown/black and inhabits freshwater streams and lakes and in weedy, mud-bottomed canals in its native habitat: the

Orinoco River The Orinoco () is one of the longest rivers in South America at . Its drainage basin, sometimes known as the Orinoquia, covers approximately 1 million km2, with 65% of it in Venezuela and 35% in Colombia. It is the List of rivers by discharge, f ...

basin in

Venezuela Venezuela, officially the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, is a country on the northern coast of South America, consisting of a continental landmass and many Federal Dependencies of Venezuela, islands and islets in the Caribbean Sea. It com ...

. Its geographic distribution is 10°N - 1°N, 68°W - 61°W. This tropical, nocturnal bottom-dweller likes warm water at the temperature range of 23–27 °C, pH range: 6.5–7.8, and dH range: 4–20. ''P. multiradiatus'' browses on substrate, mainly feeding on

benthic The benthic zone is the ecological region at the lowest level of a body of water such as an ocean, lake, or stream, including the sediment surface and some sub-surface layers. The name comes from the Ancient Greek word (), meaning "the depths". ...

algae and aquatic weeds, but will also take worms, insect larvae and other bottom-dwelling invertebrates as food. One of the large plecos (growing to a maximum of TL), this species likes solitude, is relatively peaceful as an aquarium fish and does well with

cichlids Cichlids () are a large, diverse, and widespread family of Percomorpha, percomorph fish in the family (biology), family Cichlidae, order Cichliformes. At least 1,760 species have been Binomial nomenclature, scientifically described, making ...

and other big fish, and should be kept in large tanks only and with plenty of rocks and driftwood in which to hide. Like many other plecos, it is very important in the aquarium trade.

Invasive introduction and range

Plecostomus-Pterygoplichthys multiradiatus-Front view

''P. multiradiatus'' has been introduced to

Taiwan Taiwan, officially the Republic of China (ROC), is a country in East Asia. The main geography of Taiwan, island of Taiwan, also known as ''Formosa'', lies between the East China Sea, East and South China Seas in the northwestern Pacific Ocea ...

Puerto Rico ; abbreviated PR), officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, is a Government of Puerto Rico, self-governing Caribbean Geography of Puerto Rico, archipelago and island organized as an Territories of the United States, unincorporated territo ...

Florida Florida ( ; ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. It borders the Gulf of Mexico to the west, Alabama to the northwest, Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia to the north, the Atlantic ...

Texas Texas ( , ; or ) is the most populous U.S. state, state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States. It borders Louisiana to the east, Arkansas to the northeast, Oklahoma to the north, New Mexico to the we ...

India India, officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, seventh-largest country by area; the List of countries by population (United Nations), most populous country since ...

, and

Mexico Mexico, officially the United Mexican States, is a country in North America. It is the northernmost country in Latin America, and borders the United States to the north, and Guatemala and Belize to the southeast; while having maritime boundar ...

, most likely as the result of escapes or releases from aquarium fish farms. This species is firmly established in these and other locations, where it is regarded as a harmful

invasive species An invasive species is an introduced species that harms its new environment. Invasive species adversely affect habitats and bioregions, causing ecological, environmental, and/or economic damage. The term can also be used for native spec ...

being relatively inedible to people and predators, causing damage to

fishing gear Fishing is the activity of trying to catch fish. Fish are often caught as wildlife from the natural environment (Freshwater ecosystem, freshwater or Marine ecosystem, marine), but may also be caught from Fish stocking, stocked Body of water, ...

, competing and harming against native species and disrupting environments by its burrowing activities. In this context its relative, ''

Hypostomus plecostomus ''Hypostomus plecostomus'', also known as the suckermouth catfish or common pleco, is a tropical freshwater fish belonging to the Loricariidae, armored catfish family (Loricariidae), named for the longitudinal rows of armour (anatomy), armor-lik ...

'', has also been similarly implicated though it seems likely that in Asia, both or related species are implicated.

References

Other sources

* * {{Taxonbar, from=Q2705598 Catfish of South America Taxa named by John Hancock (ornithologist) Fish described in 1828 Fish of Venezuela Freshwater fish of Colombia Hypostominae

Invasive introduction and range

See also

References

Other sources