Home · Loricariidae · Allied pleco
Allied pleco (Hypostomus affinis) — Loricariidae

Allied pleco

Hypostomus affinis
Family: Loricariidae

The Allied pleco (Hypostomus affinis) is a freshwater fish of the family Loricariidae that grows up to 40 cm.

Length
39.7 cm
Water
Freshwater
Diet
Herbivore
Activity
Nocturnal
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless

Description

The Allied pleco is an armoured catfish (Loricariidae) from fresh water of eastern coastal rivers of Brazil. The species grows to about 25 cm and has a stocky, bony-plated, brown-speckled body and a sucker mouth underneath. As a bottom-dweller it clings by day to wood and stones of flowing rivers and rasps algae, biofilm and detritus by night. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Allied pleco?

The Allied pleco has an elongate, eel-like body, is mainly brown and shows a spots pattern.

Where does the Allied pleco live?

The Allied pleco lives in fresh water and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground.

How big does the Allied pleco get?

The Allied pleco grows to a maximum of about 40 cm.

Is the Allied pleco dangerous to humans?

No, the Allied pleco is harmless to humans.

Download Fin's Fish Guide

Identify fish in seconds, log your catches and dives. Join the TestFlight beta.

Get the beta →

All data

Identification

Dutch name
Verwante pleco sourced
English name
Allied pleco sourced
Scientific name
Hypostomus affinis
Family
Loricariidae

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
39.7 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Brown sourced
Pattern
Spots sourced
Tail shape
Forked inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Freshwater sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Herbivore inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Activity
Nocturnal inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred

For anglers

Fishing method
Vissen met natuurlijk aas (vis, garnaal, worm) of kunstaas dicht bij rif- en rotsstructuren. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Hypostomus

More from the family Loricariidae

Download Fin's Fish Guide

Identify fish in seconds, log your catches and dives. Join the TestFlight beta.

Get the beta →