Genus
Acanthicus
- Species
- 2
- Photographed
- 2 of 2
- Difficulty rated
- 2 of 2
Where the name comes fromEdit
from the Greek akánthinos (Gr. ἀκάνθινος), meaning 'thorny', in reference to the dorsal surface of the head being covered with erectile spines (odontodes) in type species A. hystrix.
Acanthicus adonisPolka Dot Lyre Tail Pleco
Isbrücker & Nijssen, 1988
The polka dot lyre tail pleco, Acanthicus adonis, is a very large loricariid catfish from the rio Tocantins in Brazil. Thought to range across much of the Amazon basin, it is traded as spotted juveniles in quite large numbers despite its patent unsuitability for aquaria. It reaches 600 mm or more, loses its spotted patterning as it matures and becomes increasingly belligerent with age, so it can only be recommended to owners of the largest private aquaria or tropical ponds.
Acanthicus hystrixL155
Spix & Agassiz, 1829
The lyre tail pleco, Acanthicus hystrix, is a very large loricariid catfish from the Amazon region of Brazil and Peru. A handful of records come from the Orinoco in Venezuela. Juveniles are traded in quite large numbers, but it can reach at least 1000 mm in nature and 500 to 600 mm in captivity, and becomes increasingly belligerent with age. Young fish are easily told from A. adonis by lacking its white to yellowish body spots.