# Exastilithoxus

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***Exastilithoxus*** is a small [genus](/source/Genus) of [suckermouth armored catfish](/source/Loricariidae) native to [South America](/source/South_America).

## Species

There are currently two recognized species in this genus:[1]

- *[Exastilithoxus fimbriatus](/source/Exastilithoxus_fimbriatus)* ([Steindachner](/source/Franz_Steindachner), 1915)
- *[Exastilithoxus hoedemani](/source/Exastilithoxus_hoedemani)* [Isbrücker](/source/Isa%C3%A4c_J._H._Isbr%C3%BCcker) & [Nijssen](/source/Han_Nijssen), 1985

## Appearance and anatomy

*Exastilithoxus* species are small, cylindrical loricariids.[2]

These species exhibit a round lower lip with fleshy [barbels](/source/Barbel_(anatomy)).[2] Color pattern is generally mottled and dark brown with paler areas under and just posterior to the dorsal fin. The abdomen is white, fins are mottled, and the ventral surface of the [caudal peduncle](/source/Caudal_peduncle) is colored as the sides, but slightly lighter.[2] Like other loricariids, the body is armored, however the abdomen is naked.[2]

## Ecology

*Exastilithoxus* species are unique among loricariids in that they subsist entirely on [insect](/source/Insect) [larvae](/source/Larva).[2]

## References

1. Armbruster, Jonathan W. (June 2007). ["*Exastilithoxus* Isbrücker and Nijssen, 1979"](http://www.auburn.edu/academic/science_math/res_area/loricariid/fish_key/exastil/exastil.html)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Exastilithoxus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exastilithoxus) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exastilithoxus?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.