Hypostomus rhantos is described for a uniquely pigmented species of loricariid catfish from the upper Río Orinoco of
Amazonas, Venezuela. Hypostomus rhantos can be separated from all other Hypostomus except H. micromaculatus by
having its head and dorsal and lateral surfaces of body densely covered in very small spots (greater than 15 spots on the
first plate in the dorsal series of specimens less than 100 mm SL vs. less than 10; greater than 30 spots in specimens
greater than 100 mm SL vs. less than 15). The new species is distinguished from H. micromaculatus by having round
spots (vs. longitudinally oval) that are unordered (vs. in longitudinal lines), by having well-developed keels on the lateral
plates (vs. keels weak), by the presence of a ridge on the pterotic that is contiguous with the supraorbital ridge (vs.
pterotic ridge absent), and by having the abdomen fully plated (vs. partially plated or naked).
Abstract taken from Armbruster, J.W., Tansey, L.A. & Lujan, N.K. (2007): Hypostomus rhantos (Siluriformes: Loricariidae), a new species from southern Venezuela.
Amazonas, Venezuela. Hypostomus rhantos can be separated from all other Hypostomus except H. micromaculatus by
having its head and dorsal and lateral surfaces of body densely covered in very small spots (greater than 15 spots on the
first plate in the dorsal series of specimens less than 100 mm SL vs. less than 10; greater than 30 spots in specimens
greater than 100 mm SL vs. less than 15). The new species is distinguished from H. micromaculatus by having round
spots (vs. longitudinally oval) that are unordered (vs. in longitudinal lines), by having well-developed keels on the lateral
plates (vs. keels weak), by the presence of a ridge on the pterotic that is contiguous with the supraorbital ridge (vs.
pterotic ridge absent), and by having the abdomen fully plated (vs. partially plated or naked).
Abstract taken from Armbruster, J.W., Tansey, L.A. & Lujan, N.K. (2007): Hypostomus rhantos (Siluriformes: Loricariidae), a new species from southern Venezuela.
thanks pics, it is special and interesting for me, but not outstanding to attract the rest of others.
