PlanetCatfish.com - Megalancistrus sp. (L234) (Loricariidae) Cat-eLog

Adult - 35cm
Sub adult - 20cm
Underside of head showing everted spines
Close-up showing everted cheek spines
Dorsal view

Cat-eLog Data Sheet
Scientific Name	Megalancistrus sp. (L234)
Common Names	L234, Dragon Hi Fin Pleco Ozelotsugemalle (Denmark)
Pronunciation	mega lan SISS truss
Etymology	Greek, megas, megalos = great + Greek, agkistron = hook, in this case meaning "big Ancistrus".
Species Information
Size	600mm or 23.6" SL. Find near, nearer or same sized spp.
Identification	A colossal pleco worthy of the generic name. Can be differentiated from other large loricariids by the presence of evertible interopercular odontodes. Many sources suggest that L113 is also L234. Both are spotted. L113 is from the Rio Paraná and has a darker base colouration and, at least in adulthood, a lower dorsal fin. L234 is closely related but from the Rio São Francisco and has a lighter base colouration and, at least in adulthood, a taller dorsal fin. This confusion stems from the original L234 (DATZ, 1996) article which shows the Rio São Francisco fish but incorrectly states it came from the Rio Paraná. Possibly collection data was mixed up or commercially sensitive and so was not reported accurately.
Habitat Information
Husbandry Information
Breeding	Unreported.
Breeding Reports	There is no breeding report.
Further Information
Registered Keepers	There are 7 registered keepers, view all "my cats" data.
Wishlists	Love this species? Click the heart to add it to your wish list. There is but a single wish to keep this species, see who wants what.
Spotters	Spotted this species somewhere? Click the binoculars! There are 6 records of this fish being seen, view them all.
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	Search for M. sp. (L234)
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	LFS label creator ARN ref:1.4.86.2514
Last Update	2022 Jan 19 10:55 (species record created: 2001 May 05 00:00)