Leopard Pleco
Peckoltia compta
Leopard plecos inhabit fast-flowing, rocky stretches of Brazil's Xingu River, sheltering beneath stones and in narrow crevices. They are mostly nocturnal grazers, using their sucker-like mouths to scrape algae, biofilm, and other material from hard surfaces, while also taking small invertebrates. Their bold yellow-and-black spotting provides camouflage among dappled rocks and submerged wood. Bony plates over much of the body offer useful protection in crowded refuges.
- Type
- Water / Shell
- Conservation status
- EN