Taxonomy & naming
Lithogenes valencia was described by Provenzano, Schaefer, Baskin and Royero-León in 2003, and the genus and its subfamily were treated in detail by Schaefer and Provenzano in their 2008 monograph on the Lithogeninae (American Museum Novitates 3637, pages 1–49). The Catalog of Fishes (Eschmeyer, CAS) recognises the valid combination Lithogenes valencia.
The species sits in the subfamily Lithogeninae, which occupies a special place in loricariid systematics: it is the basal, relict lineage of the family, the sister group to all other suckermouth armoured catfishes. Studying Lithogenes is therefore central to understanding how the distinctive loricariid body plan — the ventral suckermouth and the armour of bony plates — first evolved.
The species epithet refers to the Lake Valencia basin, the type region in Venezuela for which the fish is named.
Morphology
Lithogenes valencia is a small catfish, reaching about 2 in standard length in recorded specimens. The 2008 monograph gives a detailed account of its anatomy: the dorsal fin has 7 soft rays, the anal fin 5 soft rays, and the pectoral fin 9 branched rays — the last a useful character separating it from the congener L. villosus, which has 8.
The mouth carries a broad, elongate premaxilla with 25–29 teeth whose cusps are symmetrically bifid and spatulate, and accessory premaxillary teeth are present. Odontodes run along the entire ventral surface of the first pelvic-fin ray, and the adipose fin bears an ossified spine along its anterior edge. The anal fin is dusky. These dental, odontode, and anal-fin characters distinguish L. valencia from the related L. wahari.
Habitat
Lithogenes valencia is endemic to Venezuela and is named for the Lake Valencia basin, its type region. It is a freshwater, demersal fish of tropical waters. Members of the genus are associated with flowing waters, where their pelvic-fin odontodes and clinging morphology suit life on and among rocks. No detailed published data on the temperature, pH, or specific microhabitat of this species are available beyond its demersal, tropical-freshwater designation.
Feeding
No diet study has been published for Lithogenes valencia. The broad, spatulate-cusped premaxillary teeth and accessory teeth described in the monograph are consistent with rasping food from hard surfaces, as in other loricariids, but the natural diet of the species has not been documented.
Mating
No data on courtship or mating behaviour have been published for this species.
Breeding
No data on reproduction, spawning mode, clutch size, or parental care have been published for Lithogenes valencia.
In the aquarium
Lithogenes valencia is not in the aquarium hobby. The cache and published record are explicit that there are no husbandry data, no trade record, and no L-number for the species. There is therefore no aquarium guidance to offer; it is known purely from scientific collection and study.
Conservation
Lithogenes valencia has not been evaluated by the IUCN Red List — there is no published assessment. As a Venezuelan endemic associated with a single named basin, a narrow range is plausible, but no formal conservation status has been assigned and no threat assessment has been published. The Lake Valencia basin itself is a heavily modified and pollution-affected system, which would be a relevant consideration in any future assessment, but that lies beyond what has been documented for this species.