| Torrent catfishes | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Amblyceps mangois | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Siluriformes |
| Superfamily: | Sisoroidea |
| Family: | Amblycipitidae Day, 1873 |
| Genera | |
| |
The Amblycipitidae are a family of catfishes, commonly known as torrent catfishes. It includes three genera, Amblyceps , Liobagrus , and Xiurenbagrus , [1] and about 36 species.
The family Amblycipitidae is a monophyletic group containing four monophyletic genera, Amblyceps, Liobagrus, Nahangbagrus and Xiurenbagrus. [2] [3] It is the most basal sisoroid family and is sister to a clade formed by the remaining families. [1] The genera Amblyceps and Liobagrus are a sister group pair that is, in turn, sister to Xiurenbagrus. [2]
These kinds of fishes can be found in swift freshwater streams in southern and eastern Asia, including Pakistan across northern India to Malaysia, China, Korea, and Japan. [1] Amblyceps are mainly distributed in India and the Malay Peninsula. Liobagrus fishes are distributed in the Yangtze River basin, Taiwan, Japan, and the Korea Peninsula. The species of the genus Xiurenbagrus are only distributed in the Pearl River basin. [4]
Fish of this family have dorsal fins covered by skin. An adipose fin is also present, and is fused with the caudal fin in some species. The dorsal fin base is short and the dorsal fin spine is weak. The anal fin base is short. There are six pairs of barbels. The lateral line is poorly developed or absent. [1] Both Amblyceps and Liobagrus species grow to about 10 centimetres (3.9 in) SL.
Liobagrus is more stoutly built than Amblyceps, the nostrils are close together in Amblyceps and distinctly apart in Liobagrus, and Amblyceps species have a cup-like flap above the pectoral fins that is absent in Liobagrus. Also, Amblyceps has double-folded lips and fin margins pigmented differently from the background colour, while Liobagrus has single-folded lips and fin margins paler than the background colour. [2]
The Ictaluridae, sometimes called ictalurids, are a family of catfish native to North America, where they are an important food source and sometimes fished for sport. The family includes about 51 species, some commonly known as bullheads, madtoms, channel catfish, and blue catfish.
Loricariidae is the largest family of catfish, with 92 genera and just over 680 species. Loricariids originate from freshwater habitats of Costa Rica, Panama, and tropical and subtropical South America. These fish are noted for the bony plates covering their bodies and their suckermouths. Several genera are sold as "plecos", notably the suckermouth catfish, Hypostomus plecostomus, and are popular as aquarium fish.
Trichomycteridae is a family of catfishes commonly known as pencil catfishes or parasitic catfishes. This family includes the candiru fish, feared by some people for its alleged habit of entering into the urethra of humans. They are one of the few parasitic chordates. Another species is the life monsefuano which was important to the Moche culture and still an important part of Peruvian cuisine.
The Doradidae are a family of catfishes also known as thorny catfishes, raphael catfishes or talking catfishes. These fish are native to South America, primarily the Amazon basin and the Guianas.
The Aspredinidae are a small South American family of catfishes also known as the banjo catfishes, with about 43 species.
The stream catfishes comprise the family Akysidae of catfishes.
The loach catfishes are a family, Amphiliidae, of catfishes. They are widespread in tropical Africa, but are most common in streams at high elevations; most species are able to cling to rocks in fast-flowing streams. The 13 genera contain 68 species.
Sisoridae is a family of catfishes. These Asian catfishes live in fast-moving waters and often have adaptations that allow them to adhere to objects in their habitats. The family includes about 235 species.
Erethistidae are a family of catfishes that originate from southern Asia. It includes about 45 species.
Amblyceps carinatum is a species of catfish belonging to the family Amblycipitidae. It is only known from the upper part of the Irrawaddy River basin in Myanmar.
Loricariinae is a subfamily of the family Loricariidae of catfish. This subfamily is divided into two tribes and about 30 genera. They are mainly native to freshwater habitats in South America, but there are also several species in Panama and a single (Fonchiiichthys) in Costa Rica.
Ayarnangra estuarius is a species of catfish of the family Erethistidae. It is the only member of the monotypic genus Ayarnangra.
Erethistes is a genus of South Asian river catfishes.
Pseudomystus is a genus of catfishes of the family Bagridae.
Amblyceps is a genus of fish in the family Amblycipitidae. The genera Amblyceps and Liobagrus are sister group pair that is, in turn, sister to Xiurenbagrus. These species are easily distinguished by the presence of pinnate processes along with the median caudal-fin rays, a prominent cup-like skin flap above the base of the pectoral spine ,and the adipose fin largely separate from the caudal fin. In most species the caudal fin is deeply forked; A. apangi and A. murraystuarti differ in having their caudal fin truncate. Amblyceps species may reach about 100 millimetres (3.94 in) SL.
Xiurenbagrus is a genus of torrent catfishes of the family Amblycipitidae. It includes three species.
Liobagrus is a genus of catfishes of the family Amblycipitidae. Liobagrus fishes are distributed in the Yangtze River basin, Taiwan, Japan, and the Korea Peninsula. The adipose fin of these fishes is a confluent with the caudal fin. The nostrils are far apart, unlike those found in Amblyceps. Most Liobagrus species grow to about 100 millimetres (3.94 in) SL.
The Glanapteryginae are a subfamily of catfishes of the family Trichomycteridae. It includes four genera, Glanapteryx, Listrura, Pygidianops, and Typhlobelus.
The Stegophilinae are a subfamily of catfishes of the family Trichomycteridae. It includes 12 genera: Acanthopoma, Apomatoceros, Haemomaster, Henonemus, Homodiaetus, Megalocentor, Ochmacanthus, Parastegophilus, Pareiodon, Pseudostegophilus, Schultzichthys, and Stegophilus. A monophyletic group within the Stegophilinae is supported by two characteristics of the lateral line, including Acanthopoma, Henonemus, Megalocentor, Pareiodon, Parastegophilus, and Pseudostegophilus. Acanthopoma and Henonemus have a sister group relationship.
Liobagrus somjinensis is a species of catfish in the family Amblycipitidae. It is known from the western and southern coasts of Korea and Geogeum Island, where it has been found in rivers and tributaries. L. somjinensis can be distinguished physically from other torrent catfish by the unusual length of its dorsal spine and outer mental barbel and the shortness of the distance from its dorsal-fin insertion point to its adipose-fin point of origin, as well as by markings and coloration on the fins. The caudal fin displays a broad vertical band in its center, yellow in hue and shaped like a crescent, while the dorsal, anal, and caudal fins have deep black colour on their outer margins. It grows to 10.1 cm (4.0 in) standard length.