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NAS - Nonindigenous Aquatic Species |
Common Name: clown pleco
Identification: Peckoltia includes about 12 species; the group is in need of taxonomic revision (Armbruster 1997). Distinguishing characteristics of the genus and a key to loricariid genera were provided by Burgess (1989) and Armbruster (1997). Color photographs appeared in Sands (1984), Burgess (1989), and Ferraris (1991). Armbruster (1997) noted that it is commonly confused with some Panaque; as such, he concluded that the aquarium literature should be viewed with skepticism.
Size: 22 cm.
Native Range:
Tropical America. The Amazon and Orinoco river basins (Armbruster 1997).
Nonindigenous Occurrences:
A species identified as Peckoltia was taken from Manoa Stream, Oahu, Hawaii, during 1990-1991 surveys by the state; there was also an earlier unconfirmed report from Kaukonahua Stream, Oahu, in 1989 (Devick 1991b). There are many occurences on Oahu (Mundy 2005).
Means of Introduction: Probable aquarium release.
Status: Reported from Hawaii.
Impact of Introduction: Unknown.
Remarks: Many members of this genus are popular aquarium fishes. However, some Peckoltia species are difficult to separate from members of the loricariid genus Panaque. As such, the Hawaiian record may actually be a Panaque species. Panaque maccus is the common clown pleco in the ornamental fish trade (J. Armbruster, personal communication). There are no known voucher specimens.
Burgess, W. E. 1989. An atlas of freshwater and marine catfishes: a preliminary survey of the Siluriformes. Tropical Fish Hobbyist Publications, Inc., Neptune City, NJ.
Devick, W. S. 1991b. Patterns of introductions of aquatic organisms to Hawaiian freshwater habitats. Pages 189-213 in new directions in research, management and conservation of Hawaiian freshwater stream ecosystems. Proceedings of the 1990 symposium on freshwater stream biology and fisheries management, Division of Aquatic Resources, Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources.
Ferraris, C. J., Jr. 1991. Catfish in the aquarium. Tetra Press, Morris Plains, NJ.
Other Resources:
FishBase Fact Sheet
Author: Leo Nico
Revision Date: 4/20/2006 Citation for this information:
Leo Nico. 2009. Peckoltia sp.. USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species Database, Gainesville, FL.
<http://nas.er.usgs.gov/queries/FactSheet.asp?speciesID=765> Revision Date: 4/20/2006
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