Acanthicus hystrix

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Acanthicus hystrix, known as the lyre-tail pleco, is a large armored catfish from South America. It belongs to the Loricariidae family and natural range includes the Amazon, Tocantins–Araguaia, and Orinoco river basins. It typically lives on rocky or gravel bottoms in the main river channel with moderate to strong current, but it can also be found in slower waters.

This species can grow very large, reaching about 62.8 cm (2.0 ft) in length, and may possibly grow even bigger. Its color ranges from medium-brown to near-black, with the underside often showing a vermiculated (wavy) pattern. Some river populations look different enough that hobbyists refer to them by L-numbers (such as L193 or L407), though they are not separate species. Adult males are especially spiny and have many odontodes (bony projections) on the cheeks and gill covers.

A. hystrix is sometimes kept in aquariums, but its large size and territorial behavior mean it needs a very large tank to thrive.

Conservation status: Least Concern.

Taxonomy: Kingdom Animalia; Phylum Chordata; Class Actinopterygii; Order Siluriformes; Family Loricariidae; Genus Acanthicus; Species hystrix. Synonym: Rinelepis acanthicus.