Loricarioidea

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Loricarioidea
Temporal range: Cenomanian to recent [1]
Pterygoplichthys sp.jpg
Pterygoplichthys sp.
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Siluriformes
Superfamily: Loricarioidea
Rafinesque, 1815
Families

(Amphiliidae)
Astroblepidae
Callichthyidae
Loricariidae
Nematogenyiidae
Scoloplacidae
Trichomycteridae

Contents

Loricarioidea is a superfamily of catfishes (order Siluriformes). It contains the six families Trichomycteridae, Nematogenyiidae, Callichthyidae, Scoloplacidae, Astroblepidae, and Loricariidae. Some schemes also include Amphiliidae. This superfamily, including Amphiliidae, includes about 156 genera and 1,187 species. [2]

The earliest known fossils of Loricarioidea are of the loricariid Afrocascudo from the Cenomanian of Morocco. [1] Molecular estimates suggest that the main radiation of the superfamily occurred during the Late Cretaceous. [3]

Taxonomy

Loricarioidea is traditionally considered a part of Siluroidei, a clade of all catfishes excluding Diplomystidae. [4] In Nelson, 2006, this grouping is sister to the superfamily Sisoroidea. [2] However, in a recent molecular analysis, it was determined that the suborder Loricarioidei (not including Amphiliidae) is sister to a group including Diplomystidae and Siluroidei. Amphiliidae, in this analysis, was found to be much more closely related to Mochokidae or Malapteruridae. [4] It is disputed whether Loricarioidea or Diplomystidae are the most basal group of catfish, with molecular studies favoring the former while morphological studies favor the latter. [3]

The discovery of Afrocascudo in 2024 extends the fossil record of Loricariidae (and Siluriformes as a whole) back to the Cenomanian age of the Late Cretaceous in North Africa (Kem Kem Group), making loricarioids the earliest occurring superfamily of catfish. The presence of this crown-group loricarioid in Africa suggests that the family-level radiation of Loricarioidea had already occurred by the beginning of the Late Cretaceous, and that the loricarioids originated on the supercontinent of West Gondwana prior to it splitting into Africa and South America. The African loricarioids went extinct during the Late Cretaceous, whereas the South American ones survived and radiated into their extant diversity. [1] [3]

Loricarioidea is currently diagnosed by the derived presence of a reduced gas bladder, encapsulated in expansions of the parapophysis of the first vertebrae, and of odontodes, small dermal denticles. [5] Amphiliidae is the most basal group in Loricarioidea. [2] In some older sources, Amphiliidae is not even included in this classification. [6] Based on morphologically evidence, Trichomycteridae and Nematogenyiidae diverge first; these two families are probably sister groups. [2] This relationship was neither supported nor rejected by molecular evidence. [4] Next, the order of divergence is probably Callichthyidae, then Scoloplacidae, and then Astroblepidae and Loricariidae. [2] [4] A trend in increasingly complex jaw morphology can be seen in this superfamily, which may have allowed for the great diversification of the Loricariidae, which have the most advanced jaws. [6]

Distribution and habitat

These fish are found in freshwater habitats in the Neotropics, inhabiting South America, Panama, and Costa Rica. Most species inhabit stream habitats or pools; water in these habitats tends to move relatively quickly. [6] Loricariids and Astroblepids have adapted to this with suckermouths that allow them to cling to surfaces. Astroblepids even have the ability to climb up waterfalls. [2]

Description

Like other catfish, loricarioidean catfish tend to have whiskers (except within the family Loricariidae). Fish in this group can be naked or, in the case of Callichthyids, Scoloplacids, and Loricariids, armored with bony plates. [2] Most loricarioid species are depressed (flattened) in body shape, though Callichthyids tend to be more compressed (thin). [6] Loricarioidea is defined by two characters. First, they have a unique, encapsulated gas bladder. Also, they have integumentary teeth called odontodes on their body and fin rays. [6] In Loricariids, these odontodes on their gill cover can be extended outwards. [6] Astroblepids may use their odontodes as a sensory organ. [7]

Ecology

Loricarioidea is a very diverse monophyletic group. These fish exhibit a wide range of morphologies and occupy many different habitats and trophic levels. This group includes herbivores, omnivores, and even parasites (candirú) and wood-eating species ( Panaque ). [6] [8] Loricariidae is by far the most successful and diverse family with approximately 700 species (and new species being discovered each year), and is the most species-rich family in the entire order. [2]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Catfish</span> Order of fish

Catfish are a diverse group of ray-finned fish. Named for their prominent barbels, which resemble a cat's whiskers, catfish range in size and behavior from the three largest species alive, the Mekong giant catfish from Southeast Asia, the wels catfish of Eurasia, and the piraíba of South America, to detritivores, and even to a tiny parasitic species commonly called the candiru, Vandellia cirrhosa. Neither the armour-plated types nor the naked types have scales. Despite their name, not all catfish have prominent barbels or "whiskers". Members of the Siluriformes order are defined by features of the skull and swimbladder. Catfish are of considerable commercial importance; many of the larger species are farmed or fished for food. Many of the smaller species, particularly the genus Corydoras, are important in the aquarium hobby. Many catfish are nocturnal, but others are crepuscular or diurnal.

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

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Loricariidae</span> Largest family of catfish

Loricariidae is the largest family of catfish, with over 90 genera and just over 680 species. Loricariids originate from freshwater habitats of Costa Rica, Panama, and tropical and subtropical South America. Fossils indicate that they also inhabited Africa during the Cretaceous. 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.

<i>Hypostomus</i> Genus of fishes

Hypostomus is a genus of catfish in the family Loricariidae. They are native to tropical and subtropical South America. H. plecostomus is the popular freshwater aquarium fish formerly known as Plecostomus plecostomus. The taxonomic structure of the Loricariidae is still being expanded by scientists. Hypostomus is a highly species-rich and widely distributed catfish genus.

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

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.

<i>Astroblepus</i> Genus of fishes

Astroblepus is a genus of fish in the family Astroblepidae found in South America and Panama. This genus is the only member of its family. These catfishes are primarily found in torrential streams in the Andean area. Astroblepus pholeter and A. riberae are troglobites adapted to living in subterranean water systems. These species are typically small, less than 10 cm (4 in). The largest species reaches 30 cm (1 ft). 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. 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.

<i>Nematogenys inermis</i> Species of fish

Nematogenys inermis is a species of mountain catfish, the only extant species in the family Nematogenyiidae. This species is endemic to Chile where it is found in fresh waters in central Chile. This species grows to a length of 40.7 cm (16.0 in) NG.

Scoloplax is the only genus in the catfish family Scoloplacidae, the spiny dwarf catfishes.

<i>Peckoltia</i> Genus of fishes

Peckoltia is a genus of small South American armored suckermouth catfishes. Many of these fish are popular aquarium fish.

<i>Hemiancistrus</i> Genus of fishes

Hemiancistrus is a genus of suckermouth armored catfishes. These species are native to South America. The taxonomy of this genus is complex and unclear, and major work has to be done. Many of these fish are popular aquarium fish.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ancistrini</span> Tribe of fishes

Ancistrini is a tribe of catfishes of the family Loricariidae. Most are restricted to tropical and subtropical South America, but there are also several genus in southern Central America.

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

Diplomystidae, the velvet catfishes, are a family of primitive catfishes endemic to freshwater habitats in Argentina and Chile in southern South America. It currently contains six species in two genera.

<i>Hemiodontichthys</i> Genus of fishes

Hemiodontichthys is a monotypic genus in the family Loricariidae, under the order Siluriformes, containing a single species, Hemiodontichthys acipenserinus, also known as the Pinocchio whiptail catfish, Pinocchio catfish, Pinocchio cat or the knob-nosed whiptail. This shy, bottom-dwelling catfish is native to the Guianas, Brazil, Bolivia and Perú in South America.

Astroblepus regani is a species of catfish of the family Astroblepidae. It can be found in Ecuador.

Panaque schaeferi is a freshwater species of fish from the South American armoured catfish family Loricariidae. Panaque schaeferi is widely distributed throughout the upper Amazon in Peruvian and Ecuadorian rivers, and it has been observed as far down as Santarém, Brazil. Growing to at least 60 cm SL, it is one of the largest, and likely one of the heaviest species of Loricariid. It has been known in the aquarium trade since at least 1996 under various names such as 'Titanic pleco' and 'Volkswagen pleco', in addition to L203 and LDA065 under the L-number code. Juveniles are often confused with Panaque bathyphilus and erroneously called L090c.

Scott Allen Schaefer is an American ichthyologist working at the American Museum of Natural History as the dean of science for collections, exhibitions, and the public understanding of science; he serves as the curator-in-charge, in the department of ichthyology, within the division of vertebrate zoology.

Corydoras isbrueckeri is a tropical freshwater fish belonging to the Corydoradinae sub-family of the family Callichthyidae. It originates in inland waters in South America. Corydoras isbrueckeri is found in Bolivia.

Scleromystax reisi is a species of catfish of the family Callichthyidae. Its distribution is in the streams of tributaries of the rio Jacuí and rio Camaquã of the laguna dos Patos drainage, of the Rio Grande do Sul in Brazil.

Pseudoqolus koko is a species of catfish in the family Loricariidae and the only species in the genus Pseudoqolus. It is a freshwater fish native to South America, where it occurs in the Maroni basin. It is usually found on or near stony substrates in the main river channel at a depth of around 2 m. The species has been collected alongside multiple other loricariid species, including Hemiancistrus medians, Peckoltia otali, Pseudancistrus barbatus, Harttia guianensis, Loricaria cataphracta, and Rineloricaria stewarti. It is noted that the gut contents of one specimen of this species contained primarily spicules and sponge fragments, indicating that it may feed on freshwater sponges. The species reaches 9 cm SL.

Scoloplax dicra is a species of spiny dwarf catfish found throughout the river basins of South America.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Brito, P. M.; Dutheil, D. B.; Gueriau, P.; Keith, P.; Carnevale, G.; Britto, M.; Meunier, F. J.; Khalloufi, B.; King, A.; de Amorim, P. F.; Costa, W. J. E. M. (2024). "A saharan fossil and the dawn of Neotropical armoured catfishes in Gondwana". Gondwana Research. doi:10.1016/j.gr.2024.04.008.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Nelson, Joseph S. (2006). Fishes of the World . John Wiley & Sons, Inc. ISBN   0-471-25031-7.
  3. 1 2 3 Near, Thomas J; Thacker, Christine E (18 April 2024). "Phylogenetic classification of living and fossil ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)". Bulletin of the Peabody Museum of Natural History. 65. doi: 10.3374/014.065.0101 .
  4. 1 2 3 4 Sullivan, JP; Lundberg JG; Hardman M (2006). "A phylogenetic analysis of the major groups of catfishes (Teleostei: Siluriformes) using rag1 and rag2 nuclear gene sequences". Mol Phylogenet Evol. 41 (3): 636–62. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2006.05.044. PMID   16876440.
  5. ↑ Reis, Roberto E. (1998-05-14). "Callichthyidae. Armored Catfishes". Tree of Life Web Project . Retrieved 2007-07-04.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Schaefer, Scott A.; Lauder, George V. (1986). "Historical Transformation of Functional Design: Evolutionary Morphology of Feeding Mechanisms in Loricarioid Catfishes". Systematic Zoology. 35 (4). Society of Systematic Biologists: 489–508. doi:10.2307/2413111. JSTOR   2413111.
  7. ↑ Schaefer, Scott A.; Buitrago-Suárez, Uriel Angel (2002). "Odontode Morphology and Skin Surface Features of Andean Astroblepid Catfishes (Siluriformes, Astroblepidae)" (PDF). Journal of Morphology. 254 (2): 139–48. doi:10.1002/jmor.10024. PMID   12353298. S2CID   27019672254:139–148{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: postscript (link)[ dead link ]
  8. ↑ Nelson, J. A.; Wubah, D. A.; Whitmer, M. E.; Johnson, E. A.; Stewart, D. J. (1999). "Wood-eating catfishes of the genus Panaque: gut microflora and cellulolytic enzyme activities". Journal of Fish Biology. 54 (5): 1069–1082. doi:10.1111/j.1095-8649.1999.tb00858.x.
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