Ancistrini Kner, 1854

Armbruster, Jonathan W. & Lujan, Nathan K., 2024, New tribe-level classification of Hypostominae (Loricariidae) based on optimization of morphological states on DNA-based relationships, with descriptions of three new tribes and two new genera, Neotropical Ichthyology (e 240108) 22 (4) : -

Tribe Ancistrini Kner, 1854

Included genera.

Ancistrus Kner, 1854:272 . Type-species: Hypostomus cirrhosus Valenciennes, 1836 (in Valenciennes, 1834–39). Synonyms: Pristiancistrus Fowler, 1945 , Thysanocara Regan, 1906 , and Xenocara Regan, 1904 .

Araichthys Zawadzki et al., 2016:362 . Type-species: A. loro Zawadzki, Bifi & Mariotto, 2016.

Corymbophanes Eigenmann, 1909:5 . Type-species: Corymbophanes andersoni Eigenmann, 1909 .

Cryptancistrus Fisch-Muller et al., 2018:50 . Type-species: C. similis Fisch-Muller, Mol & Covain, 2018 .

Dekeyseria Rapp Py-Daniel, 1985:178 . Type-species: D. amazonica Rapp Py-Daniel, 1985 . Synonym: Zonancistrus Isbrücker, 2001 (in Isbrücker et al., 2001).

Guyanancistrus Isbrücker, 2001:19 (in Isbrücker et al., 2001). Type-species: Lasiancistrus brevispinis Heitmans, Nijssen & Isbrücker, 1983 .

Hopliancistrus Isbrücker, Nijssen, 1989:543 . Type-species: H. tricornis Isbrücker & Nijssen, 1989 .

Lasiancistrus Regan, 1904:224 . Type-species: Chaetostomus heteracanthus Günther, 1869 . See Armbruster, 2005.

Neblinichthys Ferraris et al., 1986:70 . Type-species: N. pilosus Ferraris, Isbrücker & Nijssen, 1986 .

Lithoxancistrus Isbrücker et al., 1988:14 . Type-species: L. orinoco Isbrücker, Nijssen & Cala, 1988 .

Paulasquama Armbruster, Taphorn, 2011:46 . Type-species: P. callis Armbruster & Taphorn, 2011 .

Pseudolithoxus Isbrücker, Werner, 2001:21 (in Isbrücker et al., 2001). Type-species: Lasiancistrus tigris Armbruster & Provenzano, 2000 . Synonym: Soromonichthys Lujan & Armbruster, 2011 .

Yaluwak Lujan, Armbruster, 2019 (in Lujan et al., 2019). Type-species: Yaluwak primus Lujan, Armbruster & Werneke (in Lujan et al., 2019).

Phylogenetic diagnosis. No characters unite tribe Ancistrini as all character state changes at the node are reversed in a majority of taxa. Character state changes found at the node are hypertrophied odontodes along snout margin (188:1), snout and pectoral-fin odontode sheaths separated from odontode forming short tentacules (208:1, 209:1).

Comparative diagnosis. The diversity of forms within Ancistrini results in no characteristics that can readily separate it from all other tribes. Ancistrus , Araichthys , Corymbophanes , Dekeyseria , Lasiancistrus , Neblinichthys , and Pseudolithoxus can be separated from all Hypostomini by having three rows of plates on the caudal peduncle (vs. five, rarely four). Araichthys , Corymbophanes , some Neblinichthys , and Yaluwak can be separated from most other Hypostominae by lacking an iris operculum (the dorsal flap that bifurcates the dorsal part of the eye in most loricariids). Hopliancistrus can be separated from all other Hypostominae by generally having three large, stout, continuously curved evertible cheek odontodes (vs. no hypertrophied cheek odontodes or more or less than three with odontodes generally slender and hooked only distally, not curved throughout). Cryptancistrus , Hopliancistrus , and Lasiancistrus can be separated from all other Hypostominae by having hypertrophied odontodes at anterior corner of snout (see Armbruster, 2005). Guyanancistrus is not readily diagnosable from other Hypostominae , see Fisch-Muller et al. (2018) for review.

Geographical distribution. Found in all cis-Andean drainages from the La Plata River basin northward (including Trinidad) and trans-Andean basins from southern Ecuador to just east of the Herrera Peninsula, Panamá.