Neoplecostomus is a genus of freshwater ray-finned fishes belonging to the family Loricariidae, the suckermouth armored catfishes, and the subfamily Hypoptopomatinae, the cascudinhos. The catfishes in this genus are found in South America.
Taxonomy Neoplecostomus was first proposed as new subgenus of Plecostomus in 1888 by the German-American ichthyologist Carl H. Eigenmann and his ichthyologist wife Rosa Smith Eigenmann with Plecostomus microps designated as its type species. P. microps was originally described in 1877 by the Austrian ichthyologist Franz Steindachner with its type locality given as Rio de Janeiro, maybe the Parahyba River. This genus is sometimes placed in the subfamily Neoplecostominae but Eschmeyer's Catalog of Fishes classifies this genus in the subfamily Hypoptopomatinae, the cascudinhos, within the suckermouth armored catfish family Loricariidae.
Etymology Neoplecostomus prefixes neo-, for "new" onto plecostomus, as this genus was proposed as a subgenus of Plecostomus, now known as Hypostomus and classified in the subfamily Hypostominae.
Species There are currently 21 recognized species in this genus: Neoplecostomus altimontanus Uzeda, Paiola, Siqueira-Cesar, Okubo, Marques-Frisoni, B. N. Andrade & Langeani, 2024 Neoplecostomus bandeirante Roxo, C. de Oliveira & Zawadzki, 2012 Neoplecostomus botucatu Roxo, C. de Oliveira & Zawadzki, 2012 Neoplecostomus canastra Roxo, Silva, Zawadzki & Oliveira, 2017 Neoplecostomus corumba Zawadzki, Pavanelli & Langeani, 2008 Neoplecostomus doceensis Roxo, G. S. C. Silva, Zawadzki & C. de Oliveira, 2014 Neoplecostomus espiritosantensis Langeani, 1990 Neoplecostomus franciscoensis Langeani, 1990 Neoplecostomus granosus (Valenciennes, 1840) Neoplecostomus jaguari B. N. Andrade & Langeani, 2014 Neoplecostomus langeanii Roxo, C. de Oliveira]& Zawadzki, 2012 Neoplecostomus microps (Steindachner, 1877) Neoplecostomus paranensis Langeani, 1990 Neoplecostomus paraty Cherobim, Lazzarotto & Langeani, 2017 Neoplecostomus pirangaensis J. C. Oliveira & Oyakawa, 2019 Neoplecostomus ribeirensis Langeani, 1990 Neoplecostomus sapucai Uzeda, Paiola, Siqueira-Cesar, Okubo, Marques-Frisoni B. N. Andrade & Langeani, 2024 Neoplecostomus selenae Zawadzki, Pavanelli & Langeani, 2008 Neoplecostomus variipictus Bizerril, 1995 Neoplecostomus watersi G. S. C. Silva, Reia, Zawadzki & Roxo, 2019 Neoplecostomus yapo Zawadzki, Pavanelli & Langeani, 2008
Characteristics Neoplecostomus catfishes can be distinguished from all other loricariids by a modified shield of small plates on the abdomen with posteriorly directed odontodes; the shield appears to act as a holdfast. The color pattern is generally mottled brown with the abdomen white. The head is long, rounded, and shovel-shaped. The fin spines are weak. They range from about SL.
Distribution and habitat Neoplecostomus catfishes are endemic to Brazil where they live in fast-flowing water.
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