| SOURCE FOR OCCURRENCE IN ECUADOR: This species is very common in the Guayas River drainage. References for its occurrence in the area include Eigenmann (1922), Ovchynnyk (1971), Barnhill et al. (1974), Glodek (1978), Isbrucker (1980), Florencio (1993), Ferraris (2007), Prado (2009), Laaz et al. (2009), Laaz & Torres (2010). |
| ORIGINAL DESCRIPTION: Steindachner, F. 1880. Zur Fisch-Fauna des Cauca und der Flusse bei Guayaquil. Denkschriften der Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftlichen Classe der Kaiserlichen Akademie der Wissenschaften in Wien 42:55-104, Pls. 1-9. |
| TYPE SPECIMENS: |
| TAXONOMIC STATUS: Valid (Eschmeyer and Fricke, 2011). |
| RANGE ECUADOR: Guayas River drainage. |
| RANGE OUTSIDE OF ECUADOR: None |
| COLLECTIONS IN ECUADOR: |
| MAXIMUM SIZE: 80 cm (Laaz et al., 2009). |
| DISTINGUISHING FEATURES: Isorineloricaria spinosissima differs from other species by the following characters: long and slender caudal peduncle, which is almost round in traverse section, peculiar and very prominent secondary sexual dimorphism, with females being more rugose than the average Hypostomus due to the odontodes becoming excessively long (Isbrucker, 1980). |
| ECOLOGY: Isorineloricaria spinosissima is known in Ecuador as the "raspabalsa". It is a large, ecologically important herbivorous fish that feeds on algae and plants on rocks, trunks, and other submerged structures including small boats (Barnhil et al., 1974; Laaz et al., 2009). |
| ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE: This species is exploited as a food fish by people in rural parts of western Ecuador (Prado, 2009). |
| CONSERVATION STATUS: NA, although the species is heavily exploited as a food species. |
| LINK TO FISHBASE PAGE: Click here for the link |
| SPECIES PROFILE CREATED BY: Enrique Laaz |
| SPECIES PROFILE CONTRIBUTORS: NA |
