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Whitespot pleco (Panaqolus albomaculatus) — Loricariidae

Whitespot pleco

Panaqolus albomaculatus
Family: Loricariidae

The Whitespot pleco (Panaqolus albomaculatus) is a freshwater fish of the family Loricariidae that grows up to 12 cm.

Length
12.4 cm
Water
Freshwater
Diet
Herbivore
Activity
Nocturnal
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless

Description

The Whitespot pleco is an armoured catfish (Loricariidae) from fast-flowing, clear rivers with much dead wood in the upper Amazon basin in South America. The species grows to about 12 cm and has a flattened, bony-plated, brown body with an inferior sucker mouth. As a bottom-dweller it clings to wood and stones and rasps algae, biofilm and decaying wood. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Whitespot pleco?

The Whitespot pleco has an elongate, eel-like body and is mainly brown.

Where does the Whitespot pleco live?

The Whitespot pleco lives in fresh water and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground.

How big does the Whitespot pleco get?

The Whitespot pleco grows to a maximum of about 12 cm.

Is the Whitespot pleco dangerous to humans?

No, the Whitespot pleco is harmless to humans.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Witstip-houtmeerval sourced
English name
Whitespot pleco sourced
Scientific name
Panaqolus albomaculatus
Family
Loricariidae

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
12.4 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Brown sourced
Tail shape
Forked inferred
Mouth position
Inferior (downward) sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Freshwater sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Herbivore inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Activity
Nocturnal inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred

For anglers

Fishing method
Klein van stuk en nauwelijks een hengelsportdoel; wordt vooral incidenteel of als aasvis gevangen. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Panaqolus

More from the family Loricariidae

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