Hopliancistrus wolverine

I acquired this species from Pier Aquatics in Wigan in 2020. I received a few more specimens from Ingo Seidel of aqua-global, Werneuchen in early 2022. In 2021, this species (which presumably has several L numbers in our hobby, L17, LDA15) was described by Oliveira et al. as Hopliancistrus wolverine . It is a relatively small species from the Rio Xingu (max. about 18 cm SL). According to Ingo Seidel, Hopliancistrus wolverine is a pure (algae) feeder. I can definitely confirm this, because since I have been keeping the species in a large tank with good lighting and sufficient algae growth on the rocks, the species can be seen actively feeding on these surfaces almost all day long.

The maximum of three very strong, hook-shaped odontodes on the movable intermediate gill cover, which are typical of the genus, are easy to recognise. They can really hurt!

de Oliveira RR, Zuanon J, Py-Daniel LHR, Birindelli JLO, Sousa LM (2021) Taxonomicrevision of Hopliancistrus Isbruücker & Nijssen, 1989 (Siluriformes, Loricariidae) with redescription of Hopliancistrus tricornis and description of four new species. PLoS ONE 16(1): e0244894. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0244894