Akysis

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Akysis
Akysis sp.jpg
Akysis skeleton
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Siluriformes
Family: Akysidae
Subfamily: Akysinae
Genus: Akysis
Bleeker, 1858
Type species
Pimelodus variegatus
Bleeker, 1846

Akysis is the largest genus of catfishes (order Siluriformes) of the family Akysidae.

Contents

Taxonomy

In 1996, it was determined that Akysis is the sister group to all other akysids, then only including Parakysis , Acrochordonichthys , and Breitensteinia . However, it was acknowledged that the genus Akysis was poorly-sampled at the time and may be deemed non-monophyletic in the future. [1]

In 1998, it was recognized that the large genus Akysis includes two species groups. The first species group was the Akysis variegatus group, for species more closely related to the type species; the other group was the pseudobagarius group for species more closely related to the formerly-named Akysis pseudobagarius; the authors recognized it as conceivable that the groups represented two genera, but tentatively retained the species in a single genus. [2] Since then, the genus Pseudobagarius was erected for this species group, leaving only members of the A. variegatus group in the genus Akysis. [3]

In 2007, Laguvia manipurensis was redescribed to the genus Akysis as part of the A. variegatus group. [4]

Distribution

These fish are found in fast-flowing streams in Southeast Asia. This area is bordered by the Irrawaddy River drainage to the west, the Barito River drainage to the east, the Lancangjiang (upper Mekong) drainage to the north, and the Citarum River drainage to the south. [5] Akysis have been reported from Java, Sumatra, Borneo, Tenasserim, Thailand, Myanmar, and, most recently, the distribution of Akysis has been discovered to include India. [4]

Description

These small catfish can be distinguished by their general colouring of yellow markings on a brown background. [5] Fishes of the genus Akysis are diagnosed by having tough leathery skin covered with tubercles which are arranged in longitudinal rows along the sides, the anterior margin of the pectoral spine with a notch visible dorsally, the nasals with expansions beyond the canal-bearing teeth, and no palatal teeth. [5] These fish are distinguished from the members of the genus Pseudobagarius by a number of characteristics: these species have a terminal mouth; the posterior and anterior nostrils being smaller and located further apart with a distance between the base of the nasal barbel and anterior nostril; the anterior nostrils are situated at the tip of a short tube; and the caudal fin is truncate or emarginate rather that forked. [2]

The maximum adult size of Akysis species is less than 70 millimetres (2.8 in) SL. [6]

Ecology

Catfishes of the genus Akysis are small cryptically-coloured species. [1] Akysis are small secretive fishes that occupy a variety of habitats. Most species typically inhabit clear swift-flowing upland streams with sandy or rocky substrates. Some species are reported from the muddy side and main channels and deltas of large rivers. In smaller streams they may be found hiding in leaf litter and woody debris, in patches of live vegetation such as Cryptocoryne affinis , or in shallow riffle areas under coarse gravel or larger stones. Species of Akysis also are reported from the shallow margins to the bottom depths of large rivers where they are usually taken in trawls together with decaying vegetation. [6]

Species

There are currently 24 recognized species in this genus: [7] [8]

Related Research Articles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stream catfish</span> Family of fishes

The stream catfishes comprise the family Akysidae of catfishes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sisoridae</span> Family of fishes

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<i>Pseudolaguvia</i> Genus of fishes

Pseudolaguvia is a genus of South Asian river catfishes. These species inhabit hill streams and large rivers. P. tenebricosa is found in fast running, clear water; the river has a sandy bottom and numerous rocks and boulders and aquatic vegetation is absent. P. inornata is from clear, shallow, moderately flowing streams with a predominantly sandy bottom. P. muricata is found in clear, shallow, slow-flowing streams with a mixed substrate of sand and detritus; these fish are found amongst detritus in areas with current. P. ferula is also found in swift flowing waters with a mixed rocky/sandy bottom.

<i>Oreoglanis</i> Genus of fishes

Oreoglanis is a genus of fish in the family Sisoridae native to Asia. These fish live in fast-flowing streams in China, mainland Southeast Asia and the Indian subcontinent. They are mainly distributed in the Mekong, upper Salween and Irrawaddy River drainages. They range from the Brahmaputra basin to the Lam River drainage in central Vietnam. They are easily distinguished from other catfishes by their strongly depressed head and body and greatly enlarged paired fins that have been modified to form an adhesive apparatus. The flattened shape of these fish and the large pectoral and pelvic fins provide essential adhesion in the fast-flowing waters they live in.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anchariidae</span> Family of fishes

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<i>Leiocassis</i> Genus of fishes

Leiocassis is a genus of bagrid catfishes found mostly in Southeast Asia with some species occurring in China.

<i>Pseudobagrus</i> Genus of fishes

Pseudobagrus is a genus of bagrid catfishes that inhabit streams and rivers throughout East Asia. About half of these species occur in China.

<i>Pseudecheneis</i> Genus of fishes

Pseudecheneis is a genus of sisorid catfishes native to Asia.

<i>Gogangra</i> Genus of fishes

Gogangra is a genus of sisorid catfishes native to Asia.

Parakysis is a genus of catfishes of the family Akysidae. It includes six species.

<i>Acrochordonichthys</i> Genus of catfish

Acrochordonichthys is a genus of catfishes of the family Akysidae. It includes ten species.

Pseudobagarius is a genus of catfishes of the family Akysidae.

Akysis pulvinatus is a species of stream catfish. It is only known from the western half of the Kra Isthmus in southern Thailand.

Akysis bilustris is a species of catfish belonging to the family Akysidae, known only from two geographically proximate localities in the Xe Kong drainage, a major subdrainage of the Mekong River, in Laos and Cambodia. This species grows to a length of 2.57 centimetres (1.01 in) SL.

Akysis recavus is a species of fish in the family Akysidae, the stream catfishes. It is native to Thailand, where it occurs in the Chao Phraya River. It has also been reported from the Mekong basin in Laos.

References

  1. 1 2 Ng, Heok Hee; Freyhof, Jörg (December 2003). "Akysis clavulus, a new species of catfish (Teleostei: Akysidae) from central Vietnam". Ichthyol. Explor. Freshwaters. 14 (4): 311–316.
  2. 1 2 Ng, Heok Hee; Kottelat, M. (1998). "The catfish genus Akysis Bleeker (Teleostei: Akysidae) in Indochina, with descriptions of six new species". Journal of Natural History. 32 (7): 1057–1097. Bibcode:1998JNatH..32.1057N. doi:10.1080/00222939800770531.
  3. Ferraris, Carl J. Jr. (2007). "Checklist of catfishes, recent and fossil (Osteichthyes: Siluriformes), and catalogue of siluriform primary types" (PDF). Zootaxa . 1418: 1–628. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.1418.1.1.
  4. 1 2 Vishwanath, W.; Linthoingambi, I.; Juliana, L. (2007). "Fishes of the Genus Akysis Bleeker from India (Teleostei: Akysidae)". Zoos' Print Journal. 22 (5): 2675–2678. doi: 10.11609/jott.zpj.1547.2675-8 (inactive 2024-06-11).{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: DOI inactive as of June 2024 (link)
  5. 1 2 3 Ng, Heok Hee (2006). "Akysis longifilis, a new species of catfish (Teleostei: Akysidae) from Myanmar" (PDF). Zootaxa . 1150: 19–30. doi: 10.11646/zootaxa.1150.1.2 .
  6. 1 2 Ng, Heok Hee; Sabaj, Mark H. (September 2005). "Akysis hardmani (Siluriformes: Akysidae), a new species of catfish from Thailand". Ichthyol. Explor. Freshwaters. 16 (3): 215–222.
  7. Froese, Rainer and Pauly, Daniel, eds. (2014). Species of Akysis in FishBase . June 2014 version.
  8. Kottelat, M. (2013). "The Fishes of the Inland Waters of Southeast Asia: A Catalogue and Core Bibliography of the Fishes Known to Occur in Freshwaters, Mangroves and Estuaries" (PDF). The Raffles Bulletin of Zoology. Supplement No. 27: 1–663. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-12-02.
  9. Ng, Heok Hee (2011). "Akysis bilustris, a new species of catfish from southern Laos (Siluriformes: Akysidae)" (PDF). Zootaxa . 3066: 61–68. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.3066.1.5.