| Astroblepus | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Astroblepus sabalo | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Siluriformes |
| Suborder: | Loricarioidei |
| Family: | Astroblepidae Bleeker, 1862 [1] |
| Genus: | Astroblepus Humboldt, 1805 [2] |
| Type species | |
| Astroblepus grixalvii Humboldt, 1805 [2] | |
| Synonyms [2] | |
| |
Astroblepus is a genus of freshwater ray-finned fishes belonging to the family Astroblepidae, the climbing catfishes or naked sucker-mouth catfishes. This genus is the only genus in its family. [2] These catfishes are primarily found in torrential streams in the Andean area. [3] Astroblepus pholeter and A. riberae are troglobites adapted to living in subterranean water systems. [4] These species are typically small, less than 10 cm (4 in). [3] The largest species reaches 30 cm (1 ft). [3] These fish have suckermouths like those of loricariids. They have two pairs of barbels, maxillary and nasal. The dorsal fin spine lacks a locking mechanism. [5] These fish also have odontodes, tiny teeth on their skin. All species exhibit a conical, pointy type on their fin rays like that found in other loricarioids; other species also exhibit a blunt type that is only found on their skin. [5]
Some of these fish are able to live in high altitude and climb the faces of waterfalls. [5] Their climbing ability comes from specially developed pelvic fins, as well as their suckermouths. [5] In their Neotropical Andean habitat, dry and wet seasons are quite extreme, and odontodes may help in sensing food, mates and water flow, as well as help cling to surfaces. [5] They feed upon invertebrates, such as caterpillars and annelids. [5]
The Astroblepidae were usually placed within Siluriformes as the sister family of Loricariidae, [6] [7] but a recent study found them to be more closely related to the family Scoloplacidae. [8] [9]