Pterygoplichthys joselimaianus

Pterygoplichthys joselimaianus, also known as the Gold spot pleco or the Marbled sailfin pleco, is a species of armored catfish. It is endemic to Brazil, occurring in the Tocantins River basin.^[2] It is often mistaken for Pterygoplichthys pardalis or Pterygoplichthys gibbiceps.

Gold spot pleco
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Siluriformes
Family:	Loricariidae
Subfamily:	Hypostominae
Tribe:	Pterygoplichthyini
Genus:	Pterygoplichthys
Species:	P. joselimaianus
Binomial name
Pterygoplichthys joselimaianus (C. Weber, 1991)

In the aquarium trade, it may be referred to by its L-number, being L001 or L022.^[3]

Description

P. joselimaianus has a dorsoventrally flattened body, dark brown in colour with light "gold" spots covering the whole body and fins. It has a large dorsal fin with 10 rays, characteristic for the Pterygoplichthys genus. On all fins the first ray is thicker, and on the pectoral fins there are visible spikes. It's a large fish, growing to a length of around 30.5 centimetres (12.0 in) SL.^[4]

These fish prefer temperatures ranging between 26 and 29 degrees Celsius, and pH between 6.5 and 7.5.

P. joselimaianus in an aquarium.

Etymology

The fish is named in honor of ichthyologist José Lima de Figueiredo (b. 1943), of the Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de São Paulo, because of his support and observations on the species covered in the author's paper.^[5]