PlanetCatfish.com

Hi,

image 11 on species page is not H. plecostomus, body shape is quite off (much too flat).

Hence, assuming that it's the same specimen or from the same group probably also images 6-8 from the same image author are not.
In pictures 6 & 8 the pleco also looks too flat.
Usually the underside is more or less free from spots (pattern in picture 7 might still be possible for that species but quite unusual).

Best regards,
Karsten

Hi,

the pictures from Shane Lindner also do not really look like H. plecostomus to me, much closer than the other one though. It would be very interesting to know where those came from.

Did those eventually come from Colombia, Orinoco drainage ?
Officially, H. plecostomus is also listed for this river system, but I do have some doubts (not much more than gut feeling) if this is really the same species.

Best regards,
Karsten

Picture 13 (JJ PL) is also no H.plecostomus, the dorsal fin spine is definitely out of range (too long vs. Weber et al. 2012).

Hi Karsten,

What do you think about this one? @Shane collected the ones he photographed in Venezuela - not sure exactly where.



Jools

Hi Jools,

this might be the same specimen as in picture 11 (same picture author), IMHO too flat for H. plecostomus, the caudal peduncle also looks too high in comparison with body height.

Best regards,
Karsten

https://www.researchgate.net/publicatio ... ricariidae

Based on the above, none of the fish I collected are H. plecostomus. My specimens were all collected in feeder rivers (Rio Guraico, Rio Pao, etc) in the Orinoco drainage.
-Shane

Shane wrote: ↑10 Dec 2023, 20:55Based on the above, none of the fish I collected are H. plecostomus. My specimens were all collected in feeder rivers (Rio Guraico, Rio Pao, etc) in the Orinoco drainage.

Thanks Shane, brown spotted plecos are so much fun. I reckon these are either H. plecostomoides or L192 then. Amazingly I never considered L192 when I was looking at your fishes. It is not well documented.

OK, will review the pics.

Thanks Karsten,

Cheers,

Jools

L192 collection area is spot on.
-Shane