Taxonomy & naming
Eigenmann and Allen described the species in 1942 from Iquitos, Peru, and it is the type species of Pterosturisoma in the subfamily Loricariinae, the twig catfishes and whiptails. The genus name refers to its resemblance to Sturisoma, the royal farlowellas. It is sold under its scientific name.
Morphology
FishBase gives a maximum of 6.5 in SL. It has the elongate, rod-like body and flattened head of the Loricariinae, with the long caudal peduncle typical of the subfamily. The atlas holds no colour description.
Habitat
FishBase records a freshwater, bottom-dwelling fish of the upper Amazon basin, tropical, living at 24 to 28 degrees C. The type locality is Iquitos in Peru. No pH, hardness or flow data are given.
Feeding
Diet is not recorded for this species. Sturisoma-like loricariines graze biofilm and soft growth on wood and stone, and hobbyists offer algae wafers and blanched vegetables.
Mating
Mating is not described.
Breeding
No spawning record is available. Loricariines generally lay eggs on a hard surface, with the male guarding them, but this has not been documented for this species.
In the aquarium
It is occasional in the trade, known to the atlas from Wet Spot and Imperial Tropicals. Keep it at 24 to 28 degrees C in a well-oxygenated, mature tank with wood and a sandy bottom, and avoid boisterous tankmates that outcompete it for food. FishBase gives no pH or hardness range.
Conservation
The IUCN Red List assessed Pterosturisoma microps as Least Concern on 25 November 2020. It lives in the upper Amazon basin.