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{{Short description|Genus of fishes}}
{{DISPLAYTITLE:''Panaque''}}
{{Automatic taxobox
{{Taxobox
⚫
| name = ''Panaque''
| image = Panaque.JPG
| image = Panaque.JPG
| image_width = 240px
| image_caption = ''Panaque nigrolineatus'' in an aquarium
| image_caption = ''Panaque nigrolineatus'' in an aquarium
| display_parents = 2
| regnum = [[Animal]]ia
⚫
| taxon = Panaque
| phylum = [[Chordate|Chordata]]
⚫
| authority = [[Carl H. Eigenmann|C. H. Eigenmann]] & [[Rosa Smith Eigenmann|R. S. Eigenmann]], 1889
| classis = [[Actinopterygii]]
| ordo = [[Siluriformes]]
| familia = [[Loricariidae]]
| subfamilia = [[Hypostominae]]
| tribus = [[Ancistrini]]
| genus = '''''Panaque'''''
⚫
| genus_authority = [[Carl H. Eigenmann|C. H. Eigenmann]] & [[Rosa Smith Eigenmann|R. S. Eigenmann]], 1889
| type_species = ''[[Panaque nigrolineatus|Chaetostomus nigrolineatus]]''
| type_species = ''[[Panaque nigrolineatus|Chaetostomus nigrolineatus]]''
| type_species_authority = W. K. H. Peters, 1877
| type_species_authority = [[Wilhelm Peters|W. K. H. Peters]], 1877
| subdivision_ranks = Species
| subdivision_ranks = Species
| s
| subdivision =
ubdivision =
}}
}}
The genus '''''Panaque''''' contains a small number of small to medium sized [[South America]]n [[Loricariidae|suckermouth armoured catfish]]es that are notable for being among the very few vertebrates that [[Xylophagy|feed extensively on wood]].<ref>[http://www.towson.edu/~nelson/Panaque/manaus.html Panaque respirometry paper<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> In addition, algae and [[aufwuchs]] are an important part of the diet, and they use their rasping teeth to scrape this from rocks. These fish are also popular [[aquarium]] fish, where the sound of scraping as these fish forage for food is easily audible.
The genus '''''Panaque''''' contains a small number of small to medium-sized [[South America]]n [[Loricariidae|suckermouth armoured catfish]]es that are notable for being among the very few vertebrates that [[Xylophagy|feed extensively on wood]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.towson.edu/~nelson/Panaque/manaus.html |title=Panaque respirometry paper<!-- Bot generated title --> |access-date=2006-01-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060222071552/http://www.towson.edu/%7Enelson/Panaque/manaus.html |archive-date=2006-02-22 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In addition, algae and [[aufwuchs]] are an important part of the diet, and they use their rasping teeth to scrape this from rocks. These fish are also popular [[aquarium]] fish, where the sound of scraping as these fish forage for food is easily audible.{{Citation needed|date=July 2022}}


==Taxonomy==
==Taxonomy==
'''''[[Scobinancistrus]]''''' and '''''[[Panaqolus]]''''' are sometimes considered to be subgenera of this genus.<ref name="Armbruster">{{cite web|url=http://www.auburn.edu/academic/science_math/res_area/loricariid/fish_key/Panaque/Panaque.html|title=Panaque|last=Armbruster|first=Jon|accessdate=2007-03-31}}</ref>
'''''[[Scobinancistrus]]''''' and '''''[[Panaqolus]]''''' are sometimes considered to be subgenera of this genus.<ref name="Armbruster">{{cite web|url=http://www.auburn.edu/academic/science_math/res_area/loricariid/fish_key/Panaque/Panaque.html|title=Panaque|last=Armbruster|first=Jon|accessdate=2007-03-31}}</ref>


===Species===
===Species===
There are currently seven recognized species in this genus: <ref>{{FishBase genus | genus = Panaque| month = December | year = 2011}}</ref>
There are currently seven recognized species in this genus:<ref>{{FishBase genus | genus = Panaque| month = December | year = 2011}}</ref>
* ''[[Panaque armbrusteri]]'' <small>[[Nathan Keller Lujan|Lujan]], [[Max H. Hidalgo|Hidalgo]] & [[Donald J. Stewart|D. J. Stewart]], 2010</small><ref name="biojournals2010" />
* ''[[Panaque armbrusteri]]'' {{small|[[Nathan Keller Lujan|Lujan]], [[Max H. Hidalgo|Hidalgo]] & [[Donald J. Stewart|D. J. Stewart]], 2010}}<ref name="biojournals2010" />
* ''[[Panaque bathyphilus]]'' <small>[[Nathan Keller Lujan|Lujan]] & [[Carine Cavalcante Chamon|Chamon]], 2008</small>
* ''[[Panaque bathyphilus]]'' {{small|[[Nathan Keller Lujan|Lujan]] & [[Carine Cavalcante Chamon|Chamon]], 2008}}
* ''[[Panaque cochliodon]]'' <small>[[Franz Steindachner|Steindachner]], 1879</small>
* ''[[Panaque cochliodon]]'' {{small|[[Franz Steindachner|Steindachner]], 1879}}
* ''[[Panaque nigrolineatus]]'' <small>[[Wilhelm Peters|W. K. H. Peters]], 1877</small> (Royal panaque)
* ''[[Panaque nigrolineatus]]'' {{small|[[Wilhelm Peters|W. K. H. Peters]], 1877}} (Royal panaque)
* ''[[Panaque schaeferi]]'' <small>[[Nathan Keller Lujan|Lujan]], [[Max H. Hidalgo|Hidalgo]] & [[Donald J. Stewart|D. J. Stewart]], 2010</small><ref name="biojournals2010" />
* ''[[Panaque schaeferi]]'' {{small|[[Nathan Keller Lujan|Lujan]], [[Max H. Hidalgo|Hidalgo]] & [[Donald J. Stewart|D. J. Stewart]], 2010}}<ref name="biojournals2010" />
* ''[[Panaque suttonorum]]'' <small>[[Leonard Peter Schultz|L. P. Schultz]], 1944</small> (Blue-eye panaque)
* ''[[Panaque suttonorum]]'' {{small|[[Leonard Peter Schultz|L. P. Schultz]], 1944}} (Blue-eye panaque)
* ''[[Panaque titan]]'' <small>[[Nathan Keller Lujan|Lujan]], [[Max H. Hidalgo|Hidalgo]] & [[Donald J. Stewart|D. J. Stewart]], 2010</small><ref name="biojournals2010" />
* ''[[Panaque titan]]'' {{small|[[Nathan Keller Lujan|Lujan]], [[Max H. Hidalgo|Hidalgo]] & [[Donald J. Stewart|D. J. Stewart]], 2010}}<ref name="biojournals2010" />


==Etymology==
==Etymology==
The name ''Panaque'' is a Latinisation of a native Venezuelan name for these fish. It is pronounced "pan ack" in Britain and Europe, but often as "pan aki" or "pan a kay" in America. The Japanese call these fish "pana koo ee".
The name ''Panaque'' is a Latinisation of a native Venezuelan name for these fish. It is pronounced "pan ack" in Britain and Europe, but often as "pan aki" or "pan a kay" in America. The Japanese call these fish "pana koo ee".{{cn|date=September 2018}}


== Distribution and habitat ==
== Distribution and habitat ==
''Panaque'' are found in the [[Magdalena River]], [[Orinoco River]], [[Amazon River]], [[Essequibo River]], and [[Lake Maracaibo]] drainages.<ref name="Chockley">{{cite journal|url=http://www.auburn.edu/academic/science_math/res_area/loricariid/fish_key/Panaque_changae.pdf|title=''Panaque changae'', a new species of catfish (Siluriformes: Loricariidae) from eastern Peru|first=Brandon R.|last=Chockley|coauthors=Armbruster, Jonathan W.|journal=Ichthyol. Explor. Freshwaters|volume=13|issue=1|pages=81–90|month=May | year=2002|format=PDF|accessdate=2009-06-24}}</ref> All ''Panaque'' come from tropical South American and inhabit fast-flowing streams and rivers. They are weak swimmers but like other armoured catfish possess a strong sucker-like mouth with which they can hold on to submerged rocks and wood.
''Panaque'' are found in the [[Magdalena River]], [[Orinoco River]], [[Amazon River]], [[Essequibo River]], and [[Lake Maracaibo]] drainages.<ref name="Chockley">{{cite journal|url=http://www.auburn.edu/academic/science_math/res_area/loricariid/fish_key/Panaque_changae.pdf|title=''Panaque changae'', a new species of catfish (Siluriformes: Loricariidae) from eastern Peru|first=Brandon R.|last=Chockley|author2=Armbruster, Jonathan W.|journal=Ichthyol. Explor. Freshwaters|volume=13|issue=1|pages=81–90|date=May 2002|accessdate=2009-06-24}}</ref> All ''Panaque'' come from tropical South American and inhabit fast-flowing streams and rivers. They are weak swimmers but like other armoured catfish possess a strong sucker-like mouth with which they can hold on to submerged rocks and wood.{{Citation needed|date=July 2022}}


== Physical characteristics ==
== Physical characteristics ==
[[Image:panaque teeth.jpg|thumb|left|Mouth and teeth of ''Panaque nigrolineatus'']]
[[File:panaque teeth.jpg|thumb|left|Mouth and teeth of ''Panaque nigrolineatus'']]
Like other members of the armoured catfish family (Loricariidae), all ''Panaque'' have sturdy, armoured bodies covered in toughened plates of skin called [[scutes]]. These are not scales; like all catfish, ''Panaque'' lack scales. As well their armour, these catfish have very sturdy [[Dorsum (biology)|dorsal]] and [[pectoral fin|pectoral]] fin spines. They use these defensively, either to wedge themselves into cracks from which predators cannot pull them, or else to prevent large predators from swallowing them. Another characteristic typical of the armoured catfish family is an [[Iris (anatomy)|iris]]. Most fish are unable to regulate the amount of light that enters the eye since they have irises that cannot change size. Both male and female ''Panaque'' develop bristles, known as [[odontode]]s, on the side of head immediately before and onto the pectoral fins.
Like other members of the armoured catfish family (Loricariidae), all ''Panaque'' have sturdy, armoured bodies covered in toughened plates of skin called [[scutes]]. These are not scales; like all catfish, ''Panaque'' lack scales. As well their armour, these catfish have very sturdy [[Dorsum (biology)|dorsal]] and [[pectoral fin|pectoral]] fin spines. They use these defensively, either to wedge themselves into cracks from which predators cannot pull them, or else to prevent large predators from swallowing them. Another characteristic typical of the armoured catfish family is an [[Iris (anatomy)|iris]]. Most fish are unable to regulate the amount of light that enters the eye since they have irises that cannot change size. Both male and female ''Panaque'' develop bristles, known as [[odontode]]s, on the side of head immediately before and onto the pectoral fins.{{Citation needed|date=July 2022}}


Unlike predatory catfish, these [[omnivorous]] catfish have very short barbels. These barbels can be seen in the photograph of mouth of a ''Panaque'' shown here; they are the short pointed structures on either side of a [[suckermouth]]. This sucker-like mouth allows them to attach to rocks and remain stationary with very little expenditure of energy.
Unlike predatory catfish, these [[omnivorous]] catfish have very short barbels. These barbels can be seen in the photograph of mouth of a ''Panaque'' shown here; they are the short pointed structures on either side of a [[suckermouth]]. This sucker-like mouth allows them to attach to rocks and remain stationary with very little expenditure of energy.{{Citation needed|date=July 2022}}


===Xylophagy (wood consumption and digestion)===
===Xylophagy (wood consumption and digestion)===


Along with the species of the ''Hypostomus cochliodon'' group (formerly the genus ''Cochliodon''), it has been argued that ''Panaque'' are the only fish that can eat and digest wood.<ref name="Chockley"/> These fish have particular adaptations to its wood diet include spoon-shaped, scraper-like teeth and highly angled jaws to chisel wood.<ref name="Chockley"/> Researchers have also identified [[symbiotic]] [[gut bacteria]] that may allow the fish to digest the wood they consume.<ref name="Nelson">{{cite journal|url=http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/j.1095-8649.1999.tb00858.x|title=Wood-eating catfishes of the genus ''Panaque'': gut microflora and cellulolytic enzyme activities|journal=Journal of Fish Biology|year=1999|volume=54|pages=1069–1082|last=Nelson|first=J. A.|coauthors=Wubah, D. A.; Whitmer, M. E.; Johnson, E. A.; Stewart, D. J.|format=PDF|doi=10.1111/j.1095-8649.1999.tb00858.x|issue=5}}</ref> However, others have argued that ''Panaque'' do not in fact digest wood, and in fact take up very little energy from the wood they consume and actually lose weight when fed just wood.<ref name="German">{{cite journal|url=http://www.springerlink.com/content/30179842g1315q6h/|title=Inside the guts of wood-eating catfishes: can they digest wood?|journal=Journal of Comparative Physiology B|volume=179|pages=1011|year=2009|last=German|first=D. P.|format=PDF|doi=10.1007/s00360-009-0381-1|issue=8}}</ref> Furthermore, their digestive tracts are no different from those of related catfish and they do not hold wood particles in the gut longer than other catfish, suggesting ''Panaque'' are not phyisically adapted to eating wood, and are in fact [[detritivores]] much like other Loricariidae.<ref name="German"/> In September 2010 scientists from the [[US National Science Foundation]] claimed to have discovered a new species of wood-eating catfish in the [[Alto Purús National Park]], [[Peru]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/southamerica/peru/8002101/Wood-eating-catfish-discovered-in-Peru.html|title=Wood-eating catfish discovered in Peru|publisher=[[The Daily Telegraph]], UK|accessdate=September 15 2010|location=London|first=Fiona|last=Govan|date=2010-09-14}}</ref>
Along with the species of the ''[[Hypostomus cochliodon]]'' [[Species flock|group]] (formerly the genus ''Cochliodon''), it has been argued that ''Panaque'' are the only fish that can eat and digest wood.<ref name="Chockley"/> Possible adaptations to consuming wood include spoon-shaped, scraper-like teeth and highly angled jaws to chisel wood.<ref name="Chockley"/> Researchers have also identified [[symbiotic]] [[gut bacteria]] that may allow the fish to digest the wood they consume.<ref name="Nelson">{{cite journal|title=Wood-eating catfishes of the genus ''Panaque'': gut microflora and cellulolytic enzyme activities|journal=Journal of Fish Biology|year=1999|volume=54|pages=1069–1082|last=Nelson|first=J. A.|author2=Wubah, D. A.|authorlink2=Daniel Asua Wubah|author3=Whitmer, M. E.|author4=Johnson, E. A.|author5=Stewart, D. J.|doi=10.1111/j.1095-8649.1999.tb00858.x|issue=5|bibcode=1999JFBio..54.1069N }}</ref> However, others have argued that ''Panaque'' do not in fact digest wood, and in fact take up very little energy from the wood they consume and actually lose weight when fed just wood.<ref name="German">{{cite journal|title=Inside the guts of wood-eating catfishes: can they digest wood?|journal=Journal of Comparative Physiology B|volume=179|pages=1011–1023|year=2009|last=German|first=D. P.|doi=10.1007/s00360-009-0381-1|issue=8|pmid=19562350|pmc=2762535}}</ref> Furthermore, their digestive tracts are no different from those of related catfish and they do not hold wood particles in the gut longer than other catfish, suggesting ''Panaque'' are not physically adapted to eating wood, and are in fact [[detritivores]] much like other Loricariidae.<ref name="German"/> In September 2010 scientists from the [[US National Science Foundation]] claimed to have discovered a new species of wood-eating catfish in the [[Alto Purús National Park]], [[Peru]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/southamerica/peru/8002101/Wood-eating-catfish-discovered-in-Peru.html|title=Wood-eating catfish discovered in Peru|publisher=[[The Daily Telegraph]], UK|accessdate=September 15, 2010|location=London|first=Fiona|last=Govan|date=2010-09-14}}</ref>


==In the aquarium==
==In the aquarium==
Several species of ''Panaque'' have become popular aquarium fish, in particular the brightly coloured ''Panaque nigrolineatus''. This fish is known as the "royal panaque" or "royal plec", a reflection of its costliness and beauty when compared with the common plecs, ''Hypostomus'' spp. widely sold to aquarists as algae eaters. Royal plecs have a greyish-green background colour against which are set thick, dark bluish-black stripes. The fins are edged with gold or cream, and the eyes are red. In captivity, royal plecs typically grow to around 30&nbsp;cm in length.<ref name=planetcatfish>{{cite web|url=http://www.planetcatfish.com/cotm/cotm.php?article_id=74|title=PlanetCatfish::Catfish of the Month::May 1999|date=2007-05-22|accessdate=2007-07-01}}</ref>
Several species of ''Panaque'' have become popular aquarium fish. The brightly coloured ''Panaque nigrolineatus'' is particularly popular and is known as the "royal panaque" or "royal pleco", monikers which reflect its comparative costliness and beauty over the [[Hypostomus plecostomus|common pleco]]. Royal plecos have a greyish-green base color against which thick, dark bluish-black stripes are set; their fins are edged with gold or cream, and their eyes are red. In captivity, royal plecos typically grow to around 30&nbsp;centimeters in length.<ref name=planetcatfish>{{cite web|url=http://www.planetcatfish.com/cotm/cotm.php?article_id=74|title=PlanetCatfish::Catfish of the Month::May 1999|date=2007-05-22|accessdate=2007-07-01}}</ref>


A second species, ''Panaque cochliodon'', is familiar to many aquarists as the blue-eyed plec. This fish was quite widely traded in the late 1980s and early 1990s but is now only rarely exported from its native Colombia.<ref>[http://www.planetcatfish.com/faq/index.php?qid=52 PlanetCatfish • Frequently Asked Questions<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> Aquarium books often refer to the blue-eyed plec as ''Panaque suttonorum'' or ''Panaque suttoni'', though ''Panaque suttonorum'' is in fact a quite different fish that only comes from Venezuela. Blue-eyed plecs reach a similar size to royal plecs, but because many specimens are infected with a bacterium closely related to ''[[Rickettsia]]'', mortality immediately after import can be high.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Khoo|first=L.|coauthors=Dennis, P. M.; Lewbart, G. A.|year=1995|title=''Rickettsia''-like organisms in the blue-eyed plecostomus, ''Panaque suttoni'' (Eigenmann & Eigenmann)|journal=Journal of Fish Diseases|volume=18|pages=157–164|doi=10.1111/j.1365-2761.1995.tb00273.x|issue=2}}</ref> Once settled in and feeding, they are no more difficult to keep than royal plecs.
A second species, ''Panaque cochliodon'', is familiar to many aquarists as the "blue-eyed pleco". Though the blue-eyed pleco was widely traded in the late 1980s and early 1990s, it is now only rarely exported from its native [[Colombia]].<ref>[http://www.planetcatfish.com/faq/index.php?qid=52 PlanetCatfish • Frequently Asked Questions<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> It is also associated with the [[Binomial nomenclature|binomina]] ''Panaque suttonorum'' and ''P. suttoni'', though ''Panaque suttonorum'' is a different fish which only comes from [[Venezuela]]. Blue-eyed plecos reach a similar size to royal plecos, but because many specimens are infected with a bacterium closely related to ''[[Rickettsia]]'', mortality immediately after import can be high.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Khoo|first=L.|author2=Dennis, P. M. |author3=Lewbart, G. A. |year=1995|title=''Rickettsia''-like organisms in the blue-eyed plecostomus, ''Panaque suttoni'' (Eigenmann & Eigenmann)|journal=Journal of Fish Diseases|volume=18|pages=157–164|doi=10.1111/j.1365-2761.1995.tb00273.x|issue=2|bibcode=1995JFDis..18..157K }}</ref> However, once they have settled in and begun feeding, they are no more difficult to keep than royal plecos.{{Citation needed|date=July 2022}}


All ''Panaque'' catfish require much the same thing in captivity. Their main demand is for a mixed diet including green algae, fresh vegetables such as carrots, courgettes, and spinach, and clean bogwood. In the wild, these fish feed almost entirely on wood and algae, and the meaty foods enjoyed by other [[Plecostomus|plecs]] are not required. Because they are relatively large for aquarium fish and produce an unusual amount of waste, a big tank with a good filter is essential. Royal panaques at least are adaptable as far as water chemistry goes and though they prefer somewhat soft, slightly acid water conditions they will tolerate hard, alkaline water as well.
All ''Panaque'' catfish require much the same care in captivity. ''Panaque'' mainly demand a mixed diet including green algae, fresh vegetables such as carrots, courgettes, and spinach, but because they are argued to be [[Xylophagy|xylophagous]], many aquarists provide driftwood for them to graze upon, as well. The meaty foods enjoyed by other [[Plecostomus|plecos]] are not required. Because they are relatively big for aquarium fish and produce an unusually large amount of waste, a high-capacity tank and filter are essential. Royal panaques tolerate a wider range of water chemistry than others—they prefer somewhat soft, slightly acid water but they will tolerate [[Hard water|hard]], alkaline water.{{Citation needed|date=July 2022}}


In terms of behaviour, ''Panaque'' are peaceful and nocturnal, and make good residents in community tanks. Like most of the other armoured catfish, they are territorial, and groups should only be kept in very large tanks.
In terms of behavior, ''Panaque'' are peaceful and nocturnal bottom-dwellers which make good residents in community tanks. Like most of the other armored catfish, they are territorial, and groups should only be kept in very large tanks.{{Citation needed|date=July 2022}}


==See also==
==See also==
Line 63: Line 56:


== References ==
== References ==
{{Reflist|30em|refs=
<div class="references-small" style="-moz-column-count:2; column-count:2;">
<references>
<ref name="biojournals2010">[http://www.bioone.org/doi/abs/10.1643/CI-09-185 Revision of Panaque (Panaque), with Descriptions of Three New Species from the Amazon Basin (Siluriformes, Loricariidae)] - bioone.org Retrieved 2011-01-03</ref>
<ref name="biojournals2010">[http://www.bioone.org/doi/abs/10.1643/CI-09-185 Revision of Panaque (Panaque), with Descriptions of Three New Species from the Amazon Basin (Siluriformes, Loricariidae)] - bioone.org Retrieved 2011-01-03</ref>
}}
</references>
</div>


==External links==
==External links==
* {{FishBase genus | genus = Panaque | month = May | year = 2006}}
* {{FishBase genus | genus = Panaque | month = May | year = 2006}}
*[http://www.towson.edu/~nelson/Panaque/panaque.html Panaque Research] Studies on the wood eating loricariid catfishes
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20060213032950/http://www.towson.edu/%7Enelson/Panaque/panaque.html Panaque Research] Studies on the wood eating loricariid catfishes

{{Taxonbar|from=Q134906}}


[[Category:Ancistrini]]
[[Category:Ancistrini]]
[[Category:Catfish of South America]]
[[Category:Catfish genera]]
[[Category:Freshwater fish genera]]
[[Category:Fishkeeping]]
[[Category:Fishkeeping]]
[[Category:Herbivorous animals]]
[[Category:Herbivorous vertebrates]]
[[Category:Taxa named by Carl H. Eigenmann]]

[[Category:Taxa named by Rosa Smith Eigenmann]]
[[ca:Panaque]]
[[de:Panaque]]
[[fr:Panaque]]
[[lt:Panakės]]
[[no:Panaque]]
[[pl:Panaque]]
[[pt:Panaque]]

Latest revision as of 18:30, 7 July 2024

Panaque
Panaque nigrolineatus in an aquarium
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Siluriformes
Family: Loricariidae
Subfamily: Hypostominae
Tribe: Ancistrini
Genus: Panaque
C. H. Eigenmann & R. S. Eigenmann, 1889
Type species
Chaetostomus nigrolineatus

The genus Panaque contains a small number of small to medium-sized South American suckermouth armoured catfishes that are notable for being among the very few vertebrates that feed extensively on wood.[1] In addition, algae and aufwuchs are an important part of the diet, and they use their rasping teeth to scrape this from rocks. These fish are also popular aquarium fish, where the sound of scraping as these fish forage for food is easily audible.[citation needed]

Taxonomy

[edit]

Scobinancistrus and Panaqolus are sometimes considered to be subgenera of this genus.[2]

Species

[edit]

There are currently seven recognized species in this genus:[3]

Etymology

[edit]

The name Panaque is a Latinisation of a native Venezuelan name for these fish. It is pronounced "pan ack" in Britain and Europe, but often as "pan aki" or "pan a kay" in America. The Japanese call these fish "pana koo ee".[citation needed]

Distribution and habitat

[edit]

Panaque are found in the Magdalena River, Orinoco River, Amazon River, Essequibo River, and Lake Maracaibo drainages.[5] All Panaque come from tropical South American and inhabit fast-flowing streams and rivers. They are weak swimmers but like other armoured catfish possess a strong sucker-like mouth with which they can hold on to submerged rocks and wood.[citation needed]

Physical characteristics

[edit]
Mouth and teeth of Panaque nigrolineatus

Like other members of the armoured catfish family (Loricariidae), all Panaque have sturdy, armoured bodies covered in toughened plates of skin called scutes. These are not scales; like all catfish, Panaque lack scales. As well their armour, these catfish have very sturdy dorsal and pectoral fin spines. They use these defensively, either to wedge themselves into cracks from which predators cannot pull them, or else to prevent large predators from swallowing them. Another characteristic typical of the armoured catfish family is an iris. Most fish are unable to regulate the amount of light that enters the eye since they have irises that cannot change size. Both male and female Panaque develop bristles, known as odontodes, on the side of head immediately before and onto the pectoral fins.[citation needed]

Unlike predatory catfish, these omnivorous catfish have very short barbels. These barbels can be seen in the photograph of mouth of a Panaque shown here; they are the short pointed structures on either side of a suckermouth. This sucker-like mouth allows them to attach to rocks and remain stationary with very little expenditure of energy.[citation needed]

Xylophagy (wood consumption and digestion)

[edit]

Along with the species of the Hypostomus cochliodon group (formerly the genus Cochliodon), it has been argued that Panaque are the only fish that can eat and digest wood.[5] Possible adaptations to consuming wood include spoon-shaped, scraper-like teeth and highly angled jaws to chisel wood.[5] Researchers have also identified symbiotic gut bacteria that may allow the fish to digest the wood they consume.[6] However, others have argued that Panaque do not in fact digest wood, and in fact take up very little energy from the wood they consume and actually lose weight when fed just wood.[7] Furthermore, their digestive tracts are no different from those of related catfish and they do not hold wood particles in the gut longer than other catfish, suggesting Panaque are not physically adapted to eating wood, and are in fact detritivores much like other Loricariidae.[7] In September 2010 scientists from the US National Science Foundation claimed to have discovered a new species of wood-eating catfish in the Alto Purús National Park, Peru.[8]

In the aquarium

[edit]

Several species of Panaque have become popular aquarium fish. The brightly coloured Panaque nigrolineatus is particularly popular and is known as the "royal panaque" or "royal pleco", monikers which reflect its comparative costliness and beauty over the common pleco. Royal plecos have a greyish-green base color against which thick, dark bluish-black stripes are set; their fins are edged with gold or cream, and their eyes are red. In captivity, royal plecos typically grow to around 30 centimeters in length.[9]

A second species, Panaque cochliodon, is familiar to many aquarists as the "blue-eyed pleco". Though the blue-eyed pleco was widely traded in the late 1980s and early 1990s, it is now only rarely exported from its native Colombia.[10] It is also associated with the binomina Panaque suttonorum and P. suttoni, though Panaque suttonorum is a different fish which only comes from Venezuela. Blue-eyed plecos reach a similar size to royal plecos, but because many specimens are infected with a bacterium closely related to Rickettsia, mortality immediately after import can be high.[11] However, once they have settled in and begun feeding, they are no more difficult to keep than royal plecos.[citation needed]

All Panaque catfish require much the same care in captivity. Panaque mainly demand a mixed diet including green algae, fresh vegetables such as carrots, courgettes, and spinach, but because they are argued to be xylophagous, many aquarists provide driftwood for them to graze upon, as well. The meaty foods enjoyed by other plecos are not required. Because they are relatively big for aquarium fish and produce an unusually large amount of waste, a high-capacity tank and filter are essential. Royal panaques tolerate a wider range of water chemistry than others—they prefer somewhat soft, slightly acid water but they will tolerate hard, alkaline water.[citation needed]

In terms of behavior, Panaque are peaceful and nocturnal bottom-dwellers which make good residents in community tanks. Like most of the other armored catfish, they are territorial, and groups should only be kept in very large tanks.[citation needed]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Panaque respirometry paper". Archived from the original on 2006-02-22. Retrieved 2006-01-15.
  2. ^ Armbruster, Jon. "Panaque". Retrieved 2007-03-31.
  3. ^ Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Species in genus Panaque". FishBase. December 2011 version.
  4. ^ a b c Revision of Panaque (Panaque), with Descriptions of Three New Species from the Amazon Basin (Siluriformes, Loricariidae) - bioone.org Retrieved 2011-01-03
  5. ^ a b c Chockley, Brandon R.; Armbruster, Jonathan W. (May 2002). "Panaque changae, a new species of catfish (Siluriformes: Loricariidae) from eastern Peru" (PDF). Ichthyol. Explor. Freshwaters. 13 (1): 81–90. Retrieved 2009-06-24.
  6. ^ Nelson, J. A.; Wubah, D. A.; Whitmer, M. E.; Johnson, E. A.; Stewart, D. J. (1999). "Wood-eating catfishes of the genus Panaque: gut microflora and cellulolytic enzyme activities". Journal of Fish Biology. 54 (5): 1069–1082. Bibcode:1999JFBio..54.1069N. doi:10.1111/j.1095-8649.1999.tb00858.x.
  7. ^ a b German, D. P. (2009). "Inside the guts of wood-eating catfishes: can they digest wood?". Journal of Comparative Physiology B. 179 (8): 1011–1023. doi:10.1007/s00360-009-0381-1. PMC 2762535. PMID 19562350.
  8. ^ Govan, Fiona (2010-09-14). "Wood-eating catfish discovered in Peru". London: The Daily Telegraph, UK. Retrieved September 15, 2010.
  9. ^ "PlanetCatfish::Catfish of the Month::May 1999". 2007-05-22. Retrieved 2007-07-01.
  10. ^ PlanetCatfish • Frequently Asked Questions
  11. ^ Khoo, L.; Dennis, P. M.; Lewbart, G. A. (1995). "Rickettsia-like organisms in the blue-eyed plecostomus, Panaque suttoni (Eigenmann & Eigenmann)". Journal of Fish Diseases. 18 (2): 157–164. Bibcode:1995JFDis..18..157K. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2761.1995.tb00273.x.
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