To what specific river basin is *H. zebra* historically confined?
Answer
Xingu River basin
The Zebra Pleco is an endemic species whose evolutionary history is intrinsically linked to an extremely restricted geographic area, specifically a small section of the middle Xingu River basin located in Brazil. This limited range means its survival is dependent on the unique hydrology and geology found only within this particular system. The restriction to this single basin highlights the extreme specialization of the species and contributes directly to its inherent fragility when the native environment faces rapid alteration.

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