Peckoltia capitulata Fisch-Muller & Covain 2012

This species can be diagnosed from other Guianese species by its specific barcode sequence (JF747000) and from all congeners except Peckoltia oligospila, P. bachi, P. sabaji, P. simulata, and P. otali by having a spotted pattern of coloration of posterior part of body. In contrast to these five species, this fish has no spot present on the head. It differs further from the spotted species as well as from most other Peckoltia species by having a shorter head (length 33.4-33.6% SL vs. more than 33.7). It is readily distinguished from both P. bachi and P. otali by rounded spotting (vs. mottling); from P. bachi by a much narrower interorbital (34.4-34.5% HL, mean 34.5, vs. 57.9-59.9, mean 58.8); from P. otali by several measurements; from P. sabaji by smaller spots on caudal peduncle and less slender body. It can be further diagnosed from P. oligospila by lower occipital depth (18.4-20.4% SL, mean 19.4, vs. 21.1-23.4, mean 21.9), smaller cleithral width (30.3-30.5% SL, mean 30.4, vs. 30.9-32.8, mean 32.1) and shorter orbital diameter (6.5-7.0% SL, mean 6.8, vs. 6.9-8.1, mean 7.4); from P. oligospila and P. simulata by a shorter dorsal-fin spine (27.7-27.9% SL, mean 27.8, vs. more than 28.4) and higher caudal peduncle (11.3-11.7% SL, mean 11.5, vs. less than 10.6); and from P. simulata by tooth shape and length of hypertrophied cheek odontodes (Ref. 90183).

Dorsal spines (total): 2; Dorsal soft rays (total): 7; Analsoft rays: 5

Collected in swift current at a single place of Approuague River. During the time of collection, the river was very turbid as a result of illegal gold mining activities (Ref. 90183).

Peckoltia capitulata is a species of catfish in the family Loricariidae. It is native to South America, where it occurs in the Approuague River in French Guiana. It was initially collected from an area of the river with a swift, strong current that was noted to be unusually turbid at the time of collection due to illegal gold mining in the area. The species reaches 7.6 cm (3 inches) SL. Its specific epithet, capitulata, is derived from Latin and reportedly refers to the characteristically small head of the species.