Kingdom Animalia Order Siluriformes Subfamily Loricariinae Higher classification Pseudoloricaria | Phylum Chordata Family Loricariidae Tribe Loricariini Rank Species | |
Scientific name Pseudoloricaria laeviuscula Similar Loricaria cataphracta, Hemiodontichthys acipenserinus, Ixinandria steinbachi | ||
Pseudoloricaria laeviuscula is the only species of the monotypic genus Pseudoloricaria, a genus of the family Loricariidae of catfish (order Siluriformes). The phylogenetic position of Pseudoloricaria is uncertain.
This species is endemic to Brazil where it is found in the middle and lower Amazon basin, including the Negro and Branco Rivers. P. laeviuscula is found over sandy bottoms, in clear waters, in the main flow of rivers, and in neighboring temporary ponds.
P. laeviuscula reaches a length of 30.5 centimetres (12.0 in) SL. Although reproductive habits are unknown, this species is probably a lip brooder. Sexual dimorphism includes hypertrophied development of the lower lip suggesting that P. laeviuscula is a lip brooder. This species shows derived features such as a reduction in size and number of teeth, premaxillary teeth absent, a circular head shape, and eyes reduced in size without iris operculum.