Article © Julian Dignall, uploaded May 01, 2004.

L-numbers and their reason for existence are both topics that have been written about before; this month's featured catfish is a good example of one that has gone full circle from an unidentified photograph to a newly described species. Perhaps the best way to introduce this is a potted history in the form of a timeline of events.

We have to go back to November 1990 to find the introduction of L075 in DATZ. In November 1992, LDA02 was introduced in Das Aquarium. A little later in May 1993, a very similar fish was introduced as L124. Then, in January 2002, L301 was introduced. From a scientific viewpoint, there are two key dates. The first is the erection of the genus Ancistomus by Isbrücker et al. in 2001 and secondly the description of Peckoltia sabaji based on specimens from the Guyana shield regions of the Essequibo, Negro, and Orinoco River drainages of Guyana and Venezuela.

These fish all differ in collection locality but could not be separated by external characteristics. They have different hues of colouration depending on age, locality, mood and perhaps diet or water parameters. They range in background colour from bright yellow to beige and the fins can be coloured from a light orange to yellow. The spots are always black, always small on the head and larger on the body. The spots get progressively larger the closer they are to the tail. Fin sizes and body proportions however remain identical when comparing similarly sized specimens. It may seem that I'm lumping a lot of fish together here, but I'm excluding from this L012, L013, L036 and L163 that are two or three similar but probably different species (L013 likely being the juvenile form of L012, L163 being a very uncommon import – if you see L163 for sale it's probably L012/L013). L036 or as it is formally known, Hemiancistrus spilomma, is also discussed a little further on.

The catchment area of L075 and LDA02 was given as the Rio do Para, in Brazil, specifically Pará state intributaries of the Rio do Pará (Portel), Rio Tapajós (Itaituba) and Rio Curuá Una. These lie outside the areas mentioned by Armbruster; and also in a different drainage system yet it is still part of the great amazon basin and so its seems at least feasible that L075 may be the same species. L124 was stated as hailing from the middle reaches of the Río Orinoco between Puerto Carreño and Puerto Ayacucho in Venezuela and also Colombia. Both these towns lie on the border between the two countries and indeed the border is the river itself. So, if you catch L124 and bring it to land on one bank it's a Colombian fish but it's a Venezuelan fish on the other! I mention this to illustrate the point that fish (and indeed rivers) don't really care much about how humans choose to carve up the land. The Orinoco drainage is included in the range of Armbruster's description of Peckoltia sabaji, so L124 is likely to also be this species. Finally we have L301 from the Rupununi river in Guyana; this is the area visited by Armbruster, and this fish, out of all the three l-numbers, must most likely be Peckoltia sabaji. I like the simple life and am happy to call all three species P. sabaji, certainly until greater investigation of the various populations prove otherwise. Even if I were to take a more conservative view, I'd still have to view L124 and L301 as Peckoltia sabaji.

So, onto Peckoltia Vs Ancistomus, and indeed does Hemiancistrus come into this? There were a number of new genera introduced with the DATZ 2001 loricariid special, volume 2. Detractors of this publication cite the appearance of such descriptions in “grey literature” (i.e. aquarium magazines as opposed to peer reviewed scientific journals) and the extreme brevity of some of the descriptions. Quiritixys for example was introduced in under 100 words; the actual description minus the explanation of etymology was just 37 words. Ancistomus was introduced in less flimsy manner, but the description wasn't a great deal better. The point being that such descriptions may not have passed muster in a peer-reviewed journal; surely more research, morphometric measurements and phylogenetic discussion would seem required? All that said, proponents of the article would point to the international rules of zoological nonclamenture which state that this is all fine and good. It is a valid description even if it is not followed by the bulk of the scientific community. That leads us on to ask what is “the bulk of the scientific community”? The description did involve Isbrücker after all and it is hard to think of anyone else who has published more comprehensively on the family Loricariidae. However, no more recent publications have accepted any of the "DATZ 14" genera.

My personal view would be that I would dearly like to have seen many of these new genera introduced but with the weight of research required to introduce them with greater potency and longevity. Recent collusions between the scientific community and advanced amateur aquarists have been fruitful in other areas, why not here? Again, in my view, it is hard to explain what makes a Peckoltia as opposed to a Hemiancistrus and both genera have been used as something of a dumping (or should that be lumping) ground over the past century or so. New species of Hemiancistrus have been described recently that also appear to fit the Ancistomus mould – it seems wholly inconsistent that they be “tentatively” described as such and not as Peckoltia (or indeed vice versa) and that placement be based upon colour pattern and morphological characteristic in the absence of a phylogenetic definition of Hemiancistrus. An unlevel field of play! Peckoltia and Hemiancistrus are almost certainly not monophyletic and perhaps Ancistomus may have a role to play in the future unravelling of this particular barrel of fish. As with official rulings in the world of sport, it would be nice to have some consistency – but then again we'd be short of things to talk about after the game.

In the meantime we have a name for our l-number. Perhaps that's no bad thing? Irrespective of what you call it, P. sabaji is an undemanding, very striking pleco that would grace most aquaria. It doesn't grow large but is big enough to be a real showpiece fish. The largest one I've kept is about 150mm not including the tail fin and really is a stunning - if a little shy - fish. Even at this size it is not territorial as plecos go and I would recommend keeping a group of them. As I've mentioned, they are a little timid but active dither fish tempers this; they don't however appear to be equally settled by larger fish. Armbruster notes the following in relation to the fishes ecology; "Found in medium to large rivers among boulders. Usually in runs and riffles, but small individuals may be found hidden in the holes of lateritic rocks in pools. Most specimens I collected were collected at night. The largest individual was captured in a gill net in the main stem Essequibo and it appeared to be moving from deeper water into the shallows where there were exposed boulders."

Despite being a Peckoltia, the fish doesn't appear to spawn as readily; perhaps this is because of slightly larger than normal adult size and the related possibility the fish may take longer to mature. Furthermore there is presently no evidence to prove it is a cave spawner or indeed any firm information on how it does spawn. Its more elongate form (compared to the stubbier “classic” Peckoltia shape) may also have a bearing on breeding habits – what does this tell us about the fishes habits in the river too? Also, sexual dimorphism doesn't appear to follow the normal Peckoltia pattern of males becoming “furry” with odontodes sprouting along the posterior half of the fishes body. Aquarists further oberservations may well have a significant role to play in the understanding of this species' many facets, even over and above the cut and thrust of taxonomy and classification.

In summary, this fish has been arriving at fish stores from time to time with the price tag dropping slowly. You can now pick up three or four of these fish for the price of a zebra pleco. It's about time more people did as this is surely one of the nicest all round l-numbers that any aquarist can enjoy.

References:
Isbrücker, I.J.H. (1980): Classification and catalogue of the mailed Loricariidae (Pisces, Siluriformes). (Versl. en techn. Geg., Inst. v. Tax. Zoöl. (Zoöl. Mus.), Univ. Amsterdam).
Isbrücker, I.J.H.; Seidel, I.; Michels, J.P.; Schraml, E. & Werner, A. (2001): Diagnose vierzehn neuer Gattungen der Familie Loricariidae Rafinesque, 1815 (...). In: DATZ Sonderheft Harnischwelse 2: 17-24. Verlag Eugen Ulmer.
Cardoso, A.R. & Lucinda, PHF (2003): Three new species of Hemiancistrus (Teleostei: Siluriformes: Loricariidae) from the rio Tocantins basin with comments on the Genus. Ichthyol. Explor. Freshwaters Vol. 14. No. 1, pp73-84.
Armbruster, J. W. (2003). Peckoltia sabaji, a new species from the Guyana Shield (Siluriformes: Loricariidae). Zootaxa 344:1-12.

Copyright information for the images used in this article can be found on the species' full Cat-eLog page.

Cat-eLog Data Sheet
Scientific Name	Peckoltia sabaji  Armbruster, 2003
Common Names	LDA002, Para Pleco L075, L124, L301, Sabajs Sugemalle (Denmark)
Type Locality	5.9 kilometers west-southwest of village of Sand Creek, 02.96656°, -059.56943°, Essequibo River drainage, Rupununi (Region 9), Guyana.
Synonym(s)	Hemiancistrus sabaji
Pronunciation	peck OLE tea ah - sah BAY eye
Etymology	Peckoltia: named after Gustavo Peckolt, member of the Natural History Commission of Rondon. The species is named for Dr. Mark Henry Sabaj Perez, Collection Manager of Ichthyology, Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia.
Articles	- Shane's World Reproduction Keeping and spawning Peckoltia sabaji
Species Information
Size	250mm or 9.8" SL. Find near, nearer or same sized spp.
Identification	See CotM article link below.
Sexing	Peckoltia sabaji are difficult to sex. It is more reliable when they are conditioned well but still takes a good eye. Well-conditioned males will have longer cheek odontodes and some on their pectoral fins, but not a lot and only slightly larger than the females. Males also have slightly larger fins than that of the females.
Habitat Information
Distribution	Guyana, Essequibo drainage, Venezuela/Colombia, middle reaches of Orinoco drainage, northern Brazil, Rio Negro drainage and river of Para State flowing north into the Amazon downstream of the confluence with the Rio Negro. Amazon, Lower Amazon (click on these areas to find other species found there) Amazon, Middle Amazon (Solimoes), Negro (click on these areas to find other species found there) Orinoco, Middle Orinoco (click on these areas to find other species found there) Guyana Waters, Coastal Rivers of Guyanas, Essequibo (click on these areas to find other species found there) Login to view the map.
IUCN Red List Category	Least Concern , range map and more is available on the IUCN species page. Last assessed 2020.
pH	6.0 - 7.6
Temperature	24.0-26.0°C or 75.2-78.8°F (Show species within this range)
Other Parameters	Flowing water preferred but not mandatory.
Husbandry Information
Feeding	A real omnivore; will eat frozen bloodworm, sinking pellets, flakes and green vegetables. Feed unsettled or new fish at, or just before, night / lights out. User data.
Furniture	Provide plenty of rocks for hiding. Tank does not need to be well-planted. Low rounded rocks and close to the ground driftwood crevices are favoured. This pleco doesn't commonly attach to the glass or venture very high in the water column.
Compatibility	A relatively gentle pleco even when at its maximum size. Appears to do well with its own kind as well as other plecos of a similar temperament / dietary requirements.
Suggested Tankmates	Other small to medium sized catfish, a good pleco to keep with Corydoras or Brochis. Seems to prefer the company of smaller more active fish rather than larger ones. Double figure sized shoals of active tetras or even cyprinids seem to have the most calming effect and inspire confidence in these plecos to make daytime sorties in search of food.
Breeding	They are sexually mature around 13-14 cm SL but there are only small differences between the sexes. The male grows just a little longer interopercular and pectoral spine odontodes. The latter are small compared to many other species in the same genus. The females get very plump when gravid and her genital papilla will look round and be very visible, males stay slender and elongated in their body. They are cave spawners and the main problem is to get both sexes and a pair that match each other in terms of size and temperament as the spawning is remarkably gentle in comparison to most other species especially Hypancistrus.
Breeding Reports	There is no breeding report.
Further Information
Reference	Zootaxa No. 344, pp 6, Figs. 2-4.
Registered Keepers	There are 244 registered keepers, view all "my cats" data.
Wishlists	Love this species? Click the heart to add it to your wish list. There are 19 wishes to keep this species, see who wants what.
Spotters	Spotted this species somewhere? Click the binoculars! There are 78 records of this fish being seen, view them all.
Forum BBCode
	Search for P. sabaji
	Look up P. sabaji on AquaticRepublic.com
	Look up P. sabaji on Fishbase
	Look up P. sabaji on Encyclopedia of Life
	Look up P. sabaji on Global Biodiversity Information Facility
	LFS label creator ARN ref:1.4.18.195
Last Update	2023 May 21 00:24 (species record created: 2004 May 01 11:22)

Back to Catfish of the Month index.