Harttiella longicauda Covain & Fisch-Muller, 2012
Harttiella longicauda
photo by Fisch-Muller, S.

Family:  Loricariidae (Armored catfishes), subfamily: Loricariinae
Max. size:  5.246 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  demersal; freshwater
Distribution:  South America: mountainous areas in the Trinité and Balenfois massifs in northern French Guiana.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal soft rays (total): 7-7; Anal spines: 1-1; Anal soft rays: 5-5. Distinguished from all other congeneric species except Harttiella pilosa by the frequent presence of few small preanal plates (vs absence of preanal plates), and by its specific barcode sequences (JF292277, JF292278, JF292279, JF292280, JF292282, JF292283). Differs from Harttiella pilosa by having the pectoral girdle wider than pelvic girdle (vs pectoral girdle approximately as wide as the pelvic girdle). Six unique morphometric variables distinguish Harttiella longicauda from all other congeners: shorter pelvic spines (mean = 19.36 ± 1.17% of SL vs 20.55 ± 0.36 < mean < 24.67 ± 1.46% of SL); smaller body width at eighth postdorsal plate (mean = 9.29 ± 1.07% of SL vs 10.28 ± .98 < mean < 11.48 ± 0.94% of SL); body width at fourteenth postdorsal plate (mean = 3.99 ± 0.51% of SL vs 4.72 ± 0.62 < mean < 5. 59 ± 0.70% of SL); minimum caudal peduncle depth (mean = 2.53 ± 0.18% of SL vs 3.24 ± 0.2 1 < mean < 4.86 ± 0.43% of SL); interorbital width (mean = 33.82 ± 2.03% of HL vs 35.25 ± 1.21 < mean < 38.20 ± 2.03% of HL), and head depth at internostril (mean = 33.19 ± 1.76% of HL vs 33.89 ± 2.22 < mean < 36.74 ± 4.00% of HL (Ref. 90209).
Biology:  Found in mountain areas. Sympatric with Guyanancistrus aff. brevispinis, Krobia itanyi, Rhamdia quelen, Ancistrus cf. leucostictus, Lithoxus planquettei, Characidium fasciadorsale, Melanocharacidium cf. dispilomma, and Rineloricaria aff. stewarti in the Trinité Mountains (Ref. 90209).
IUCN Red List Status: Vulnerable (VU); Date assessed: 14 January 2021 (B1ab(iii)) Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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