| Lepthoplosternum | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Siluriformes |
| Family: | Callichthyidae |
| Subfamily: | Callichthyinae |
| Genus: | Lepthoplosternum R. E. dos Reis, 1997 |
| Type species | |
| Callichthys pectoralis Boulenger, 1895 | |
Lepthoplosternum is a small genus of freshwater catfish in the Callichthyinae subfamily of the armored catfish family.
The type species for this genus is Callichthys pectoralis. The name is derived from the Greek leptos, meaning "thin", the Greek hoplon, meaning "weapon", and the Greek sternon, meaning "chest" or "sternum". [1]
L. stellatum and L. ucamara are hypothesized to form a partially unresolved polytomy with L. pectorale and L. beni, which are sister-species to each other. L. tordilho is sister to these four species and L. altamazonicum is the most basal species. [2]
There are currently six recognized species in this genus: [1]
Lepthoplosternum is widely distributed in cis-Andean South America south of the Orinoco River basin.
Lepthoplosternum species usually inhabit lentic or slow flowing water bodies and are often associated with marginal or floating vegetation. [2] L. ucamara has even been found in hypoxic conditions. [2] However, the type locality of L. stellatum is a stream, permanently flowing and well oxygenated. [2]
Lepthoplosternum species are the smallest callichthyines (maximum standard length 60.3 mm) and are easily recognized by two synapomorphies: the lower lip with deep medial notch and a small, additional lateral notch forming fleshy projections on each side; and a single unbranched ray preceding the branched ones on the anal fin. [2]
Ancistrus is a genus of nocturnal freshwater fish in the family Loricariidae of order Siluriformes, native to freshwater habitats in South America and Panama. Fish of this genus are common in the aquarium trade where they are known as bushynose or bristlenose catfish. In the aquarium hobby they are often referred to as bushynose or bristlenose plecos instead, but this may lead to confusion as "pleco" usually is used for Hypostomus plecostomus and its allies and is often used as a catchall term for any loricariids remotely resembling that species.
Callichthyidae is a family of catfishes, called armored catfishes due to the two rows of bony plates along the lengths of their bodies. It contains some of the most popular freshwater aquarium fish, such as many species in the genus Corydoras.
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.
Corydoras is a genus of freshwater catfish in the family Callichthyidae and subfamily Corydoradinae. The species usually have more restricted areas of endemism than other callichthyids, but the area of distribution of the entire genus almost equals the area of distribution of the family, except for Panama where Corydoras is not present. Corydoras species are distributed in South America where they can be found from the east of the Andes to the Atlantic coast, from Trinidad to the Río de la Plata drainage in northern Argentina. Species assigned to Corydoras display a broad diversity of body shapes and coloration. Corydoras are small fish, ranging from 2.5 to 12 cm in SL., and are protected from predators by their body armor and by their sharp, typically venomous spines.
Otocinclus is a genus of catfish in the family Loricariidae native to South America, commonly known as "dwarf suckers" or "otos". This genus, like other loricariids, is characterized by rows of armour plating covering the body, as well as the underslung suckermouth. They are generally small in size; O. tapirape is the smallest of the species (2.4 cm), while O. flexilis is the biggest (5.5 cm). These species have adaptations that allow them to breathe air. A duct forms at the junction between the esophagus and the stomach and expands into an enlarged, ring-like diverticulum, characteristic of this genus, which allows air-breathing. Otocinclus are popular aquarium fish, and they are often purchased as algae eaters. It is difficult to breed them in captivity, and only wild caught Otocinclus are available to hobbyists. This genus is widely distributed east of the Andes of South America, throughout the lowlands from northern Venezuela to northern Argentina, but are generally absent from the Amazon and the Orinoco lowlands.
Aspidoras is a genus of catfishes of the family Callichthyidae from Brazil.
Callichthys is a small genus of freshwater catfish in the Callichthyinae subfamily of the armored catfish family, and consists of 4 species from South America. The genus Callichthys is distributed in most freshwater drainages of South America.
Rineloricaria is a genus of freshwater tropical catfish belonging to the family Loricariidae. They are commonly called whiptail catfish because of the long filament that grows out of the tip of the caudal fin that is characteristic of the genus. With the exception of R. altipinnis from Panama, they are native to the rivers of northern and central South America. Some species are regularly seen in the aquarium trade.
Megalechis is a small genus of freshwater catfish in the Callichthyinae subfamily of the armored catfish family.
Epactionotus is a genus of armored catfishes native to South America.
Hisonotus is a genus of armored catfishes native to South America. Species of Hisonotus and Curculionichthys are the only representatives of the subfamily Otothyrinae having serrae on the posterior edge of the pectoral fin spine. These species are small fishes, generally found in small fast flowing streams, where they grasp to the branches and leaves of aquatic or subaquatic plants. The species of this genus mostly occur in Atlantic coastal streams of southern Brazil and the Paraguay-Paraná system of southern South America. They are also distributed in the Río de La Plata basin and coastal rivers of southeastern Brazil.
Pareiorhaphis is a genus of catfish in the family Loricariidae native to South America. This genus can be readily distinguished from other neoplecostomines by the unique combination of having fleshy lobes on lateral margins of head ornamented with hypertrophied odontodes on nuptial males, caudal peduncle ovoid in cross section, abdomen usually naked, dorsal fin spinelet ovoid and adipose fin usually present. The color pattern is usually dark brown and mottled with the abdomen white. Most species in to Pareiorhaphis were originally described in Hemipsilichthys. In 1918, Alípio de Miranda-Ribeiro proposed the new genus Pareiorhaphis. Whether Pareiorhaphis is monophyletic or not is currently unknown.
Parotocinclus is a genus of fish in the family Loricariidae native to South America. This genus is distributed through almost all hydrographic systems in South America from the Guyana Shield drainages and Amazon Shield tributaries to the coastal drainages of eastern and southeastern Brazil, including the rio São Francisco basin. Most species have the caudal peduncle oval in cross section. It has been found that Characidium species may interact with P. maculicauda. The small Characidium will follow grazing P. maculicauda, which release particulate matter dislodged from the catfish's foraging.
Eurycheilichthys is a small genus of armored catfishes native to South America.
Dasyloricaria is a genus of armored catfishes native to Central and South America. The distribution of these species includes the northwestern South America on the Pacific slope of Colombia and Panama. Its distribution is restricted to the Pacific slope of the Andes, which is a unique pattern of distribution within the subfamily.
Entomocorus is a genus of catfishes of the family Auchenipteridae.
Lepthoplosternum beni is a species of catfish of the family Callichthyidae. It is found in the upper Madeira River basin in Bolivia and Peru.
Lepthoplosternum pectorale is a species of catfish of the family Callichthyidae. It is found in Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay where it occurs in the Paraguay River.
Lepthoplosternum stellatum is a species of catfish of the family Callichthyidae. This species is so far known from the type locality only, the Igarapé Repartimento, a tributary of the mouthbay lake, Tefé Lake, some 6 km south of the town of Tefé, Amazonas, Brazil.
Lepthoplosternum ucamara is a species of catfish of the family Callichthyidae. This species is known from the Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve in the lower Ucayali River in Peru and from the area of confluence of the Solimões River and Japurá River in Brazil.