Acanthicus adonis, the adonis pleco or polka dot lyre-tail pleco, is a large species of armored catfish.[2][3] It was originally described from the lower Tocantins River in Brazil, but individuals resembling the species have also been recorded from Amazonian Peru.[4][5] The species is occasionally seen in the aquarium trade, but its massive adult size and territorially aggressive behavior means that a very large tank is required.[5][2] These fish are opportunistic omnivores.[2]
Appearance
Acanthicus adonis is among the largest armored catfish species and reaches a length of 1m (3.3ft).[2][5]
It is dark brown to black with numerous white spots as a juvenile. As the fish matures, the spots become less numerous and smaller, often disappearing entirely in large adults.[2][5] Its close relative A. hystrix always lack white spots, regardless of age.[4][6] In contrast, A. adonis lacks the vermiculated pattern often (but not always) found on the underparts of A. hystrix.[4][6]
123Chamon, C.C. (2016): Redescription of Acanthicus hystrix Agassiz, 1829 (Siluriformes: Loricariidae), with comments on the systematics and distribution of the genus. Zootaxa, 4088 (3): 395–408.
