Orinoco sailfin catfish (Pterygoplichthys multiradiatus)

General data

Main name: Orinoco sailfin catfish
Local names: Long-fin armored catfish, Sailfish catfish, Many-rayed pleco, Radiated ptero
Climates: Tropical
Habitat: Freshwater
Native: South America
Introduced: North America, Asia
Distribution: Orinoco, St. Johns River, Caloosahatchee, Everglades (Florida)

Classification

Genus: Pterygoplichthys - Sailfin armoured catfish
Family: Loricariidae - Armoured suckermouth catfishes
Order: Siluriformes - Catfishes
Class: Teleostei - Ray-finned fishes
Superclass: Osteichthyes - Bony fishes

Description

Pterygoplichthys multiradiatus is one of several tropical fish commonly known as Orinoco sailfin catfish, plecostomus (or plecos). It belongs to the armored catfish family (Loricariidae). Named for its sail-like dorsal fin, the part of its scientific name multiradiatus means many-rayed and refers to the rays of the dorsal fin. P. multiradiatus is one of a number of species commonly referred to as the common pleco by aquarists. Other scientific names that were used (as synonyms) for P. multiradiatus include Hypostomus multiradiatus, Ancistrus multiradiatus, and Liposarcus multiradiatus. P. multiradiatus is sometimes confused with Pterygoplichthys pardalis, which is a different species of pleco. P. multiradiatus goes by a number of common names. It can be called the long-fin armored catfish in Hawaii, sailfin catfish, sailfish catfish, many-rayed (multiradiatus) pleco or radiated ptero in the United States. P. multiradiatus is mottled brown/black and inhabits freshwater streams and lakes and in weedy, mud-bottomed canals in its native habitat: the Orinoco River basin in Venezuela. Its geographic distribution is 10°N - 1°N, 68°W - 61°W. This tropical, nocturnal bottom-dweller likes warm water at the temperature range of 23–27 °C, pH range: 6.5–7.8, and dH range: 4–20. P. multiradiatus browses on substrate, mainly feeding on benthic algae and aquatic weeds, but will also take worms, insect larvae and other bottom-dwelling invertebrates as food. One of the large plecos (growing to a maximum of 50 centimetres (19.7 in) TL), this species likes solitude, is relatively peaceful as an aquarium fish and does well with cichlids and other big fish, and should be kept in large tanks only and with plenty of rocks and driftwood in which to hide. Like many other plecos, it is very important in the aquarium trade. P. multiradiatus has been introduced to Taiwan, Puerto Rico, Florida, Hawaii, Texas, India, and Mexico, most likely as the result of escapes or releases from aquarium fish farms. This species is firmly established in these and other locations, where it is regarded as a harmful invasive species being relatively inedible to people and predators, causing damage to fishing gear, competing and harming against native species and disrupting environments by its burrowing activities. In this context its relative, Hypostomus plecostomus, has also been similarly implicated though it seems likely that in Asia, both or related species are implicated.

Taxonomy of Fishes

Osteichthyes - Bony fishes->
- Coelacanthi - Lobe-finned fishes->
- Teleostei - Ray-finned fishes->
  - Perciformes - Perches->
  - Cypriniformes - Carps->
  - Esociformes - Pikes->
  - Salmoniformes - Salmons and Trouts->
  - Siluriformes - Catfishes->
    
    Siluridae - Eurasian catfishes->
    
    Ictaluridae - North American freshwater catfishes->
    
    Pimelodidae - Long-whiskered catfishes->
    
    Pangasiidae - Shark catfishes->
    
    Astroblepidae - Naked sucker-mouth catfishes->
    
    Clariidae - Airbreathing catfishes->
    
    Ariidae - Sea catfishes->
    
    Plotosidae - Eeltail catfishes->
    
    Doradidae - Thorny catfishes->
    
    Auchenipteridae - Driftwood catfishes->
    
    Bagridae - Naked catfishes->
    
    Callichthyidae - Armored catfishes->
    
    Sisoridae - Asian adhesive catfishes->
    
    Malapteruridae - Electric catfishes->
    
    Schilbeidae - Schilbid catfishes->
    
    Loricariidae - Armoured suckermouth catfishes->
    
    Hypostomus - Hypostomus->
    
    Pterygoplichthys - Sailfin armoured catfish->
    
    Orinoco sailfin catfish (Pterygoplichthys multiradiatus)
    
    Vermiculated sailfin catfish (Pterygoplichthys disjunctivus)
    
    Pterygoplichthys ambrosettii (Pterygoplichthys ambrosettii)
    
    Snow pleco (Pterygoplichthys anisitsi)
    
    Pterygoplichthys etentaculatus (Pterygoplichthys etentaculatus)
    
    Leopard pleco (Pterygoplichthys gibbiceps)
    
    Pterygoplichthys joselimaianus (Pterygoplichthys joselimaianus)
    
    Pterygoplichthys lituratus (Pterygoplichthys lituratus)
    
    Amazon sailfin catfish (Pterygoplichthys pardalis)
    
    Pterygoplichthys parnaibae (Pterygoplichthys parnaibae)
    
    Corroncho (Pterygoplichthys punctatus)
    
    Pterygoplichthys scrophus (Pterygoplichthys scrophus)
    
    Pterygoplichthys undecimalis (Pterygoplichthys undecimalis)
    
    Pterygoplichthys weberi (Pterygoplichthys weberi)
    
    Pterygoplichthys xinguensis (Pterygoplichthys xinguensis)
    
    Pterygoplichthys zuliaensis (Pterygoplichthys zuliaensis)
    
    Acanthicus - Acanthicus->
    
    Acestridium - Acestridium->
    
    Avalithoxus - Avalithoxus->
    
    Ancistomus - Ancistomus->
    
    Ancistrus - Ancistrus->
    
    Andeancistrus - Andeancistrus->
    
    Aphanotorulus - Aphanotorulus->
    
    Apistoloricaria - Apistoloricaria->
    
    Aposturisoma - Aposturisoma->
    
    Araichthys - Araichthys->
    
    Baryancistrus - Baryancistrus->
    
    Brochiloricaria - Brochiloricaria->
    
    Chaetostoma - Chaetostoma->
    
    Chauliocheilos - Chauliocheilos->
    
    Cordylancistrus - Cordylancistrus->
    
    Corumbataia - Corumbataia->
    
    Corymbophanes - Corymbophanes->
    
    Crossoloricaria - Crossoloricaria->
    
    Cryptancistrus - Cryptancistrus->
    
    Cteniloricaria - Cteniloricaria->
    
    Curculionichthys - Curculionichthys->
    
    Dasyloricaria - Dasyloricaria->
    
    Dekeyseria - Dekeyseria->
    
    Delturus - Delturus->
    
    Dentectus - Dentectus->
    
    Dolichancistrus - Dolichancistrus->
    
    Epactionotus - Epactionotus->
    
    Etsaputu - Etsaputu->
    
    Eurycheilichthys - Eurycheilichthys->
    
    Euryochus - Euryochus->
    
    Exastilithoxus - Exastilithoxus->
    
    Farlowella - Farlowella->
    
    Fonchiiichthys - Fonchiiichthys->
    
    Fonchiiloricaria - Fonchiiloricaria->
    
    Furcodontichthys - Furcodontichthys->
    
    Guyanancistrus - Guyanancistrus->
    
    Gymnotocinclus - Gymnotocinclus->
    
    Harttia - Harttia->
    
    Harttiella - Harttiella->
    
    Hemiancistrus - Hemiancistrus->
    
    Hemiodontichthys - Hemiodontichthys->
    
    Hemipsilichthys - Hemipsilichthys->
    
    Hirtella - Hirtella->
    
    Hisonotus - Hisonotus->
    
    Hopliancistrus - Hopliancistrus->
    
    Hypancistrus - Hypancistrus->
    
    Hypoptopoma - Hypoptopoma->
    
    Isbrueckerichthys - Isbrueckerichthys->
    
    Isorineloricaria - Isorineloricaria->
    
    Ixinandria - Ixinandria->
    
    Kronichthys - Kronichthys->
    
    Lamontichthys - Lamontichthys->
    
    Lampiella - Lampiella->
    
    Lasiancistrus - Lasiancistrus->
    
    Leporacanthicus - Leporacanthicus->
    
    Leptoancistrus - Leptoancistrus->
    
    Leptotocinclus - Leptotocinclus->
    
    Limatulichthys - Limatulichthys->
    
    Lipopterichthys - Lipopterichthys->
    
    Lithogenes - Lithogenes->
    
    Lithoxus - Lithoxus->
    
    Loraxichthys - Loraxichthys->
    
    Loricaria - Loricaria->
    
    Loricariichthys - Loricariichthys->
    
    Megalancistrus - Megalancistrus->
    
    Metaloricaria - Metaloricaria->
    
    Micracanthicus - Micracanthicus->
    
    Microlepidogaster - Microlepidogaster->
    
    Microplecostomus - Microplecostomus->
    
    Otocinclus - Otocinclus->
    
    Otothyris - Otothyris->
    
    Otothyropsis - Otothyropsis->
    
    Oxyropsis - Oxyropsis->
    
    Nannoplecostomus - Nannoplecostomus->
    
    Nannoptopoma - Nannoptopoma->
    
    Nannoxyropsis - Nannoxyropsis->
    
    Neblinichthys - Neblinichthys->
    
    Neoplecostomus - Neoplecostomus->
    
    Niobichthys - Niobichthys->
    
    Panaqolus - Panaqolus->
    
    Panaque - Panaque->
    
    Paralithoxus - Paralithoxus->
    
    Paraloricaria - Paraloricaria->
    
    Parancistrus - Parancistrus->
    
    Pareiorhaphis - Pareiorhaphis->
    
    Pareiorhina - Pareiorhina->
    
    Parotocinclus - Parotocinclus->
    
    Paulasquama - Paulasquama->
    
    Peckoltia - Peckoltia->
    
    Rhinelepis - Rhinelepis->
    
    Rhinolekos - Rhinolekos->
    
    Planiloricaria - Planiloricaria->
    
    Plesioptopoma - Plesioptopoma->
    
    Pogonopoma - Pogonopoma->
    
    Proloricaria - Proloricaria->
    
    Pseudacanthicus - Pseudacanthicus->
    
    Pseudancistrus - Pseudancistrus->
    
    Pseudohemiodon - Pseudohemiodon->
    
    Pseudolithoxus - Pseudolithoxus->
    
    Pseudoloricaria - Pseudoloricaria->
    
    Pseudoqolus - Pseudoqolus->
    
    Pseudorinelepis - Pseudorinelepis->
    
    Pseudotocinclus - Pseudotocinclus->
    
    Pseudotothyris - Pseudotothyris->
    
    Pterosturisoma - Pterosturisoma->
    
    Pyxiloricaria - Pyxiloricaria->
    
    Reganella - Reganella->
    
    Rhadinoloricaria - Rhadinoloricaria->
    
    Ricola - Ricola->
    
    Rineloricaria - Rineloricaria->
    
    Schizolecis - Schizolecis->
    
    Scobinancistrus - Scobinancistrus->
    
    Soromonichthys - Soromonichthys->
    
    Spatuloricaria - Spatuloricaria->
    
    Spectracanthicus - Spectracanthicus->
    
    Squaliforma - Squaliforma->
    
    Sturisoma - Sturisoma->
    
    Sturisomatichthys - Sturisomatichthys->
    
    Transancistrus - Transancistrus->
    
    Heptapteridae - Three-barbeled catfishes->
    
    Ailiidae - Asian schilbeids->
    
    Akysidae - Stream catfishes->
    
    Amblycipitidae - Torrent catfishes->
    
    Amphiliidae - Loach catfishes->
    
    Anchariidae - Vaonas->
    
    Aspredinidae - Banjo catfishes->
    
    Austroglanididae - Austroglanids->
    
    Cetopsidae - Whale catfishes->
    
    Chacidae - Squarehead or angler catfish->
    
    Claroteidae - Claroteid catfishes->
    
    Cranoglanididae - Armorhead catfishes->
    
    Diplomystidae - Velvet catfishes->
    
    Erethistidae - South Asian river catfishes->
    
    Heteropneustidae - Airsac catfishes->
    
    Horabagridae - Imperial catfishes->
    
    Kryptoglanidae - Indian cave catfishes->
    
    Lacantuniidae - Chiapas catfishes->
    
    Mochokidae - Squeakers or upside-down catfishes->
    
    Nematogenyidae - Mountain catfishes->
    
    Olyridae - Longtail catfishes->
    
    Parakysidae - Parakysid catfishes->
    
    Phreatobiidae - Cistern catfishes->
    
    Pseudopimelodidae - Bumblebee catfishes, dwarf marbled catfishes->
    
    Scoloplacidae - Spiny dwarf catfishes->
    
    Trichomycteridae - Pencil or parasitic catfishes->
  - Scorpaeniformes - Mail-cheeked fishes->
  - Gasterosteiformes - Sticklebacks->
  - Gadiformes - Cods->
  - Anguilliformes - Eels and morays->
  - Clupeiformes - Herrings->
  - Syngnathiformes - Pipefishes and Seahorses->
  - Gobiiformes - Gobies->
  - Mugiliformes - Mullets->
  - Carangiformes - Jacks->
  - Beloniformes - Needlefishes->
  - Labriformes - Wrasses->
  - Scombriformes - Mackerels->
  - Mulliformes - Goatfishes->
  - Pleuronectiformes - Flatfishes->
  - Aulopiformes - Grinners->
  - Blenniiformes - Blennies->
  - Cyprinodontiformes - Toothcarps->
  - Osmeriformes - Smelts->
  - Centrarchiformes - Basses and sunfishes->
  - Cichliformes - Cichlids->
  - Characiformes - Characins->
  - Osteoglossiformes - Bony tongues->
  - Elopiformes - Tarpons and tenpounders->
  - Anabantiformes - Gouramies and snakeheads->
  - Gymnotiformes - South American knifefish->
  - Istiophoriformes - Barracudas->
  - Albuliformes - Bonefishes->
  - Lepidogalaxiiformes - Salamanderfishes->
  - Lophiiformes - Anglerfishes->
  - Spariformes - Breams and porgies->
  - Trachiniformes - Weeverfishes->
  - Moroniformes - Temperate basses->
  - Acanthuriformes - Surgeonfishes->
  - Zeiformes - Dories->
  - Tetraodontiformes - Puffers and filefishes->
  - Holocentriformes - Squirrelfishes->
  - Dactylopteriformes - Flying gurnards->
  - Lampriformes - Lamprids->
  - Galaxiiformes - Southern smelts->
  - Batrachoidiformes - Toadfishes->
  - Hiodontiformes - Mooneyes->
  - Percopsiformes - Trout-perches->
  - Callionymiformes - Dragonets->
  - Atheriniformes - Silversides->
  - Notacanthiformes - Spiny eels->
  - Saccopharyngiformes - Swallowers and Gulpers->
  - Alepocephaliformes - Slickheads and tubeshoulders->
  - Gonorynchiformes - Milkfishes->
  - Argentiniformes - Marine smelts->
  - Stomiiformes - Lightfishes and dragonfishes->
  - Ateleopodiformes - Jellynose fishes->
  - Myctophiformes - Lanternfishes->
  - Stylephoriformes - Tube-eyes->
  - Polymixiiformes - Beardfishes->
  - Beryciformes - Sawbellies->
  - Trachichthyiformes - Rughies->
  - Ophidiiformes - Cusk-eels->
  - Kurtiformes - Nurseryfishes & Cardinalfishes->
  - Synbranchiformes - Swamp eels->
  - Gobiesociformes - Clingfishes->
  - Acropomatiformes - Oceanic basses->
- Cladistii - Bichirs->
- Dipneusti - Lungfishes->
- Chondrostei - Sturgeons->
- Holostei - Gars and Bowfins->
Chondrichthyes - Cartilaginous fishes->
Agnatha - Jawless fishes->