Megalancistrus

Life-forms

Superregnum: Eukaryota
Cladus: Unikonta
Cladus: Opisthokonta
Cladus: Holozoa
Regnum: Animalia
Subregnum: Eumetazoa
Cladus: Bilateria
Cladus: Nephrozoa
Superphylum: Deuterostomia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Infraphylum: Gnathostomata
Megaclassis: Osteichthyes
Superclassis/Classis: Actinopterygii
Classis/Subclassis: Actinopteri
Subclassis/Infraclassis: Neopterygii
Infraclassis: Teleostei
Megacohors: Osteoglossocephalai
Supercohors: Clupeocephala
Cohors: Otomorpha
Subcohors: Ostariophysi
Sectio: Otophysa
Ordo: Siluriformes

Familia: Loricariidae
Subfamilia: Hypostominae
Tribus: Ancistrini
Genus: Megalancistrus
Species: M. barrae – M. parananus
Name
Megalancistrus Isbrücker, 1980

Megalancistrus is a genus of large suckermouth armored catfishes native to South America.
Species

There are currently two recognized species in this genus:[1]

Megalancistrus barrae (Steindachner, 1910)
Megalancistrus parananus (W. K. H. Peters, 1881)

Distribution

The genus Megalancistrus are found in the Río de la Plata and São Francisco River basins.[1]
Description

Megalancistrus species are large and spiny and generally have 10 dorsal-fin rays. The color on the sides and the abdomen is dark brown with very large spots on the head, sides, and fins or with light vermicualtions. The abdomen is completely plated in adults. The caudal fin is forked, but without filaments. Cheek odontodes, as in Acanthicus, are thin but numerous. The plates on the body are well keeled with rows of odontodes above and below the keel rows incomplete in specimens up to at least 20 cm (7.9 in).[2]
Ecology

Megalancistrus species are live in large rivers. These fish eat freshwater sponges and probably other invertebrates. They have been found with a lot of wood in the gut, but it appears as if this was consumed accidentally.[2]
References

Froese, Rainer and Pauly, Daniel, eds. (2011). Species of Megalancistrus in FishBase. December 2011 version.
Armbruster, Jonathan W. "Megalancistrus Isbrücker, 1980". Retrieved 2007-07-21.