Neoplecostomus is a genus of fish in the family Loricariidae native to South America. Neoplecostomus 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. The species of Neoplecostomus live in fast-flowing water.
Etymology
Originally proposed as a subgenus of Plecostomus (now Hypostomus, Hypostominae), the specific name derives from néos and hence means "new" form of Plecostomus.
Species
There are currently 21 recognized species in this genus:
- Neoplecostomus altimontanus <small>Andrade, Uzeda, Paiola, Siqueira-Cesar, Okubo, Marques-Frisoni & Langeani, 2024</small>
- Neoplecostomus bandeirante <small>Roxo, C. de Oliveira & Zawadzki, 2012</small>
- Neoplecostomus botucatu <small>Roxo, C. de Oliveira & Zawadzki, 2012</small>
- Neoplecostomus canastra <small>Roxo, Silva, Zawadzki & Oliveira, 2017</small>
- Neoplecostomus corumba <small>Zawadzki, Pavanelli & Langeani, 2008</small>
- Neoplecostomus doceensis <small>Roxo, G. S. C. Silva, Zawadzki & C. de Oliveira, 2014</small>
- Neoplecostomus espiritosantensis <small>Langeani, 1990</small>
- Neoplecostomus franciscoensis <small>Langeani, 1990</small>
- Neoplecostomus granosus <small>(Valenciennes, 1840)</small>
- Neoplecostomus jaguari <small>B. N. Andrade & Langeani, 2014</small>
- Neoplecostomus langeanii <small>Roxo, C. de Oliveira & Zawadzki, 2012</small>
- Neoplecostomus microps <small>(Steindachner, 1877)</small>
- Neoplecostomus paranensis <small>Langeani, 1990</small>
- Neoplecostomus paraty <small>Cherobim, Lazzarotto & Langeani, 2017</small>
- Neoplecostomus pirangaensis <small>Oliveira & Oyakawa, 2019</small>
- Neoplecostomus ribeirensis <small>Langeani, 1990</small>
- Neoplecostomus sapucai
- Neoplecostomus selenae <small>Zawadzki, Pavanelli & Langeani, 2008</small>
- Neoplecostomus variipictus <small>Bizerril, 1995</small>
- Neoplecostomus watersi <small>Silva, Reia, Zawadzki & Roxo, 2019</small>
- Neoplecostomus yapo <small>Zawadzki, Pavanelli & Langeani, 2008</small>
References