| Phreatobius cisternarum | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Siluriformes |
| Family: | Heptapteridae |
| Genus: | Phreatobius |
| Species: | P. cisternarum |
| Binomial name | |
| Phreatobius cisternarum Goeldi, 1905 | |
Phreatobius cisternarum is a species of catfish in the genus Phreatobius . [2] This Brazilian fish is one of the few fish species that live underground in phreatic habitats. [3] It has proved problematic in its classification. [4]
Phreatobius cisternarum was collected in 1903 and first described by E. A. Goeldi in 1905. [5] This fish species and genus were redescribed in 2005. [2]
Phreatobius cisternarum is found in Brazil. They inhabit underground habitats both north and south of the mouth of the Amazon River as well as the Marajó Island. [2] This fish inhabits superficial, phreatic habitats, but does not live in the deeper artesian aquifers. [6]
These fish are found commonly in hand-dug wells on Marajó. These wells are 4–13 metres (13–43 ft) deep. In these wells, these fish are more common during the dry season when the water depth recedes to about 30 centimetres (12 in), and are rarer during the rainy season when the depth can increase by several metres. The water is warm and acidic (pH 5-6). [6]
This small fish reaches a maximum length of 5.5 centimetres (2.2 in) SL. [7] There is great variation between members of this species. [2]
The head of this species is distinctly wider than the body. The integument is thick and opaque. [8] The lateral line is reduced. [8] The pelvic fin is highly variable in length between specimens, and can be reduced to finger-like projections. The red coloration is generally uniform over the body and head and is due to superficial blood; this red coloration does not extend to the fins. The fish is darker on the dorsal surface due to some pigmentation in the skin. The barbels are whitish and fade to transparent tips. [8]
Phreatobius cisternarum hide and fit tightly within crevices of rocks, where they stay most of the time, leaving only for food. [6] These fish are not a burrowing species, nor do they hide under vegetative matter, restricting themselves to these crevices. [6] They do not interact much with each other and do not seem to be gregarious. [6] Nothing is known about the reproductive habits of this species. [9]
Phreatobius cisternarum feed on macro-invertebrates such as worms. They either swallow their prey whole, or take a bite out of it, rolling their body, and twisting a piece off. This firm grip is due to extremely large jaw muscles, which are well adapted to feeding on relatively large prey; worms eaten in captivity can be as long as the fish itself. [9] It is unknown what invertebrates P. cisternarum actually feeds on in its natural habitat. Because food is rare in their environment, these fish are able to survive long periods of starvation, which is partially because of their inactivity. A captive individual did not feed for a year, but remained in good condition. [9]
These fish indicate they have some form of respiration that allows them to breathe air, however this behavior is only exhibited under stressful conditions. [6] It is supposed that these fish also have a form of cutaneous respiration, as they are small, live in conditions with low dissolved oxygen, and have high blood circulation to their skin (which provides its red coloration). [9]
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.
The Amazon basin is the part of South America drained by the Amazon River and its tributaries. The Amazon drainage basin covers an area of about 7,000,000 km2 (2,700,000 sq mi), or about 35.5 percent of the South American continent. It is located in the countries of Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela, as well as the territory of French Guiana.
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.
Ostariophysi is the second-largest superorder of fish. Members of this superorder are called ostariophysians. This diverse group contains 10,758 species, about 28% of known fish species in the world and 68% of freshwater species, and are present on all continents except Antarctica. They have a number of common characteristics such as an alarm substance and a Weberian apparatus. Members of this group include fish important to people for food, sport, the aquarium industry, and research.
The eel-tailed catfish, Tandanus tandanus, is a species of catfish of the family Plotosidae. This fish is also known as dewfish, freshwater catfish, jewfish, and tandan.
The Aspredinidae are a small South American family of catfishes also known as the banjo catfishes, with about 43 species.
The redtail catfish, Phractocephalus hemioliopterus, is a pimelodid (long-whiskered) catfish. In Venezuela, it is known as cajaro, in Guyana, it is known as a banana catfish, and in Brazil, it is known as pirarara, stemming from the Tupi language words pirá and arara. It is the only extant species of the genus Phractocephalus. This fish is common in the aquarium trade, although its massive adult size makes it unsuitable for all but the largest aquariums. They feed on fish, crustaceans and fallen fruits. They are not evaluated by IUCN.
Britski's catfish is a tropical freshwater fish belonging to the subfamily Corydoradinae of the family Callichthyidae native to South America where it is found in the upper Paraguay River basin in Brazil. This species was formerly classified as Brochis britskii.
Phreatobius is a genus of very small catfishes from tropical South America.
Asterophysus batrachus, the gulper catfish or ogre catfish, is a species of catfish of the family Auchenipteridae. It is native to the Rio Negro and Orinoco basins in Brazil, Colombia and Venezuela, where mostly found in slow-moving waters with many submerged structures. It is currently the only recognized species of the genus Asterophysus, but a specimen that possibly represents an undescribed species has been collected in Marajó.
The bayad, is a species of bagrid catfish from Africa.
Ictalurus pricei, the Yaqui catfish, is a species of North American freshwater catfish native to Mexico and Arizona.
Clarias gariepinus or African sharptooth catfish is a species of catfish of the family Clariidae, the airbreathing catfishes.
Cavefish or cave fish is a generic term for fresh and brackish water fish adapted to life in caves and other underground habitats. Related terms are subterranean fish, troglomorphic fish, troglobitic fish, stygobitic fish, phreatic fish, and hypogean fish.
Trachelyopterus is a genus of driftwood catfishes. They have been found in South American environments, including Venezuela, Colombia, Peru, Argentina, and several places in Brazil. They have a body pattern that follows bilateral symmetry and reproduce sexually. In terms of sensory systems, Trachelypterus’ have autoliths for hearing and lens eyes for seeing; they also have capabilities of electroreception. The size and appearance of different species within the Trachelyopterus genus varies, with sizes ranging from 5.5 inches in T. albicrux to 7.9 inches in T. insignis to 8.4 inches in T. lucenai. These small catfishes are marketed towards aquariums.
Phreatobius dracunculus is a species of catfish in the genus Phreatobius.
Phreatobius sanguijuela is a South American species of heptapterid catfish that lives in underground waters.
The vundu is a species of large airbreathing catfish found widely in rivers and other freshwater habitats of sub-Saharan Africa, as well as the Nile. It is also called the sampa, cur, lenda, or certa.
The seaweed blenny is a species of combtooth blenny found in coral reefs in the western Atlantic Ocean along the coasts of New York, Bermuda, the Bahamas, also in the Gulf of Mexico, south to southern Brazil. This species reaches a length of 8.5 centimetres (3.3 in) TL.
The highfin carpsucker is a freshwater fish found in the southeastern and midwestern United States. Its usual habitat is medium to large-size rivers where it is mostly found 1 to 3 metres beneath the surface. It is a silvery fish with a prominent dorsal fin, which grows to an average length of 26.5 centimetres (10 in). It reaches sexual maturity at the age of three and females have 41,644 to 62,355 ova each. This fish forages on sandy or gravelly bottoms for such small invertebrates as crustaceans, protozoa and mollusks as well as filamentous algae. Young fish are preyed on by northern pike, muskellunge, walleye and largemouth bass and larger fish are caught by recreational fishermen. The highfin carpsucker competes with catfish and does not thrive in rivers with high levels of siltation.
