Trichomycteridae

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Trichomycteridae
Candiru.png
Vandellia cirrhosa
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Siluriformes
Superfamily: Loricarioidea
Family: Trichomycteridae
Bleeker, 1858
Subfamilies [1]
Trichomycterus species F de Castelnau-poissonsPl24.jpg
Trichomycterus species

Trichomycteridae is a family of catfishes commonly known as pencil catfishes or parasitic catfishes. This family includes the candiru fish (Vandellia cirrhosa), 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 (Trichomycterus punctulatus) which was important to the Moche culture and still an important part of Peruvian cuisine. [2]

Contents

This family is prohibited from being imported into various parts of the United States. [3]

Taxonomy

The Trichomycteridae comprise about 42 genera and 286 species described. [4] It is the second-most diverse family of the superfamily Loricarioidea. [5] Numerous species still remain undescribed. [5]

The monophyly of Trichomycteridae is well-supported. [5] The family is divided into eight subfamilies. The only subfamily that is not monophyletic is the largest one, Trichomycterinae. [6] A large clade within Trichomycteridae is also suggested that includes the subfamilies Tridentinae, Stegophilinae, Vandelliinae, Sarcoglanidinae and Glanapteryginae (the so-called TSVSG clade); this large clade in turn forms a larger monophyletic group with the two genera Ituglanis and Scleronema . The latter two genera are not classified in any of the subfamilies. [6] The basal subfamilies Copionodontinae and Trichogeninae are sister groups to each other, and together they form a clade that is sister to the rest of the Trichomycteridae. [7]

Subfamilies and genera include: [1]

Distribution

Trichomycteridae has the greatest distribution of any catfish family. [8] It is widely distributed throughout the Neotropics. [9] These fish originate from freshwater in Costa Rica, Panama, and throughout South America. [10] The family extends from Panama southward to Chile and Argentina. [8]

Description

The bodies of these fish are normally naked and elongated. The chin barbels are usually absent, nasal barbels are usually present, and there are usually two pairs of maxillary barbels. Most of these fish have no adipose fin, and some also lack pelvic fins. [10]

Many trichomycterids are small enough to be considered "miniatiurized" (do not exceed 2.6 cm (1.0 in) SL). Miniaturization occurs in many of the trichomycterid subfamilies, including Trichomycterinae, Glanapteryginae, Vandelliinae (in Paravandellia), Tridentinae, and Sarcoglanidinae. Miniaturization has probably occurred four times in trichomycterid evolution, as the Glanapteryginae and Sarcoglanidinae are closely related and may have a single miniaturized ancestor. [5] [11]

Ecology

Though the family is commonly known as "parasitic catfishes", Trichomycteridae may actually include the widest range of trophic adaptations within any single catfish family. [9] Only the two subfamilies Vandelliinae and Stegophilinae and Tridensimilis of Tridentinae are considered to be parasitic fishes, including the infamous candirú or vampire catfish, feared by some people for its habit of entering into the urethra of humans. [10] Apart from the free-living, generalized predators of small invertebrates, trophic modes represented by trichomycterids include the hematophagy (feeding on blood) in Vandelliinae, the lepidophagy (scales) and mucophagy (mucus) in some Stegophilinae and necrophagy (carrion) in others, and partial algivory (algae) in Copiondontinae. [9]

Trichomycteridae include species that are active swimmers (Copionodontinae and Trichogeninae), torrent dwellers (Trichomycterinae), litter leaf dwellers (Ituglanis), and sand dwellers (Glanapteryginae and Sarcoglanidinae). [5] Species may be restricted to elevations above 4000 m (13000 ft) in the Andes, Andean lakes, off-shore coastal islands, lowland species known only from large rapids, leaflitter puddles, and the bottom of torrential rivers. [9] Trichomycterids are one of the most successful groups to occupy cave habitats; it contains 12 hypogean species. Such species include Ituglanis bambui, I. epikarsticus, I. passensis, I. ramiroi, and Silvinichthys bortayro. [12] Six of the hypogean species are of the genus Trichomycterus : Trichomycterus chaberti, T. itacarambiensis, T. santanderensis, T. spelaeus, and T. uisae. [13]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Candiru (fish)</span> Species of fish

Candiru, also known as cañero, toothpick fish, or vampire fish, is a species of parasitic freshwater catfish in the family Trichomycteridae native to the Amazon basin where it is found in the countries of Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru.

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

The Cetopsidae are a small family of catfishes, commonly called the whale catfishes.

Listrura is a genus of pencil catfishes native to South America.

<i>Trichomycterus</i> Genus of fishes

Trichomycterus is a genus of fish in the family Trichomycteridae, the largest genus of its family with over 170 species currently described. This genus is native to freshwater habitats in Central and South America. These fish are generally small, usually about 5 to 15 cm (2–6 in) in standard length, although the largest, T. rivulatus, can reach more than twice this size. Species differ from one another primarily in body proportions, fin ray counts and colouration. Despite their relatively small size, some, such as T. punctulatus, support fisheries and are important in the local cuisine.

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

The Heptapteridae, or three-barbeled catfishes, are a family of catfish that originate from the Americas. Most species are restricted to South America, but Imparfinis lineatus, Nemuroglanis panamensis and Pimelodella chagresi are native to Panama, and Rhamdia species occur as far north as Mexico. The name Heptapteridae is derived from Greek, hepta meaning seven and pteron meaning fin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hypoptopomatinae</span> Subfamily of fishes

The Hypoptopomatinae are a subfamily of catfishes of the family Loricariidae, composed of 17 genera and approximately 80 species. This subfamily represents about one-tenth of all loricariid species.

Glaphyropoma is a genus of small pencil catfishes native to Bahia in Brazil.

Trichogenes is a genus of pencil catfishes. It is currently the only genus within the subfamily Trichogeninae.

Stauroglanis gouldingi is a species of catfish of the family Trichomycteridae, and the only species of the genus Stauroglanis.

The Sarcoglanidinae are a subfamily of catfishes of the family Trichomycteridae. It includes six genera: Ammoglanis, Malacoglanis, Microcambeva, Sarcoglanis, Stauroglanis, and Stenolicmus.

<i>Ituglanis</i> Genus of fishes

Ituglanis is a genus of small freshwater fish in the family Trichomycteridae native to South America. Their greatest diversity seems to occur in the Amazon River basin. Most species inhabit leaf litter, with several species living in caves.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trichomycterinae</span> Subfamily of fishes

The Trichomycterinae are a subfamily of catfishes of the family Trichomycteridae. It includes six genera, Bullockia, Hatcheria, Rhizosomichthys, and Eremophilus, all monotypic, Silvinichthys with seven species, and Trichomycterus, with over 170 species. The former five genera are diagnosed by putatively apomorphic characters, whereas Trichomycterus is defined by the lack of those specializations and is likely not monophyletic. This subfamily has historically served as much of a wastebasket for trichomycterids that lack the specializations of the other subfamilies. Species of Trichomycterinae dwell in headwaters and small, cold clear water streams running over stony beds. Due to the patchy distribution of their habitats, trichomycterines generally have restricted geographic distributions, thus display a high level of endemism.

The Copionodontinae are a subfamily of catfishes of the family Trichomycteridae. It includes two genera, Copionodon and Glaphyropoma.

Trichomycterus stawiarski is a species of pencil catfish endemic to Brazil, where it occurs in the upper Iguaçu river basin. This species reaches a maximum length of 12.77 centimetres (5.03 in).

Trichomycterus anhanga is a species of pencil catfish endemic to Brazil, where it occurs in the Amazon river basin in the state of Amazonas. This species reaches a maximum length of 1.3 centimetres (0.51 in) SL.

Trichomycterus balios is a species of pencil catfish endemic to Brazil, where it occurs in the upper portion of the Das Antas and Caí river basins, and the Mampituba river basin, in the state of Rio Grande do Sul. This species reaches a maximum length of 10.1 centimetres (4.0 in) SL.

Trichomycterus brachykechenos is a species of pencil catfish endemic to Brazil, where it occurs in the dos Sinos river, part of the Laguna dos Patos system, in the state of Rio Grande do Sul. This species reaches a maximum length of 7.1 centimetres (2.8 in) SL.

Trichomycterus poikilos is a species of pencil catfish endemic to Brazil, where it occurs in the Jacuí, Pardo and Taquari-das Antas river basins, tributaries of the Laguna dos Patos system, in the state of Rio Grande do Sul. This species reaches a maximum length of 9.25 centimetres (3.64 in) SL.

<i>Cetopsis candiru</i> Species of fish

Cetopsis candiru, also known as candiru, candiru açú, candiru cobra or canero, is a carnivorous species of whale catfish found in the Amazon basin of Peru, Brazil and Bolivia. Similar to Cetopsis coecutiens, Cetopsis candiru is a large species of the genus Cetopsis and a widespread scavenger, known for its voracious feeding and the habit of burrowing into the carcasses of dead animals and humans. Despite its name, it is not closely related to the bloodsucking Candiru.

Copionodon lianae is a species of catfishes of the family Trichomycteridae. It is found in the Grisante River, a tributary of the Mucujê River, which is a tributary of the Paraguaçu River in Bahia, Brazil. This species reaches a length of 6.2 cm (2.4 in).

References

  1. 1 2 "Trichomycteridae". Integrated Taxonomic Information System . Retrieved July 12, 2007.
  2. ↑ Fondazioneslowfood: Life monsefuano. Retrieved 28 April 2017.
  3. ↑ Froese, Rainer, and Daniel Pauly, eds. (2007). "Trichomycteridae" in FishBase . July 2007 version.
  4. ↑ Ferraris, Carl J. Jr. (2007). "Checklist of catfishes, recent and fossil (Osteichthyes: Siluriformes), and catalogue of siluriform primary types" (PDF). Zootaxa . 1418: 1–628. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.1418.1.1 . Retrieved 2009-06-24.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 Datovo, Aléssio; Landim, Maria Isabel (2005). "Ituglanis macunaima, a new catfish from the Rio Araguaia basin, Brazil (Siluriformes: Trichomycteridae)". Neotropical Ichthyology. 3 (4): 455–464. doi: 10.1590/S1679-62252005000400002 .
  6. 1 2 Fernández, Luis; de Pinna, Mario C. C. (2005). Armbruster, J. W. (ed.). "Phreatic Catfish of the Genus Silvinichthys from Southern South America (Teleostei, Siluriformes, Trichomycteridae)". Copeia . 2005 (1): 100–108. doi:10.1643/CI-03-158R2. S2CID   85875502.
  7. ↑ Bichuette, Maria Elina; de Pinna, Mario César Cardoso; Trajano, Eleonora (2008). "A new species of Glaphyropoma: the first subterranean copionodontine catfish and the first occurrence of opercular odontodes in the subfamily (Siluriformes: Trichomycteridae)" (PDF). Neotropical Ichthyology. 6 (3): 301–306. doi: 10.1590/S1679-62252008000300002 .
  8. 1 2 Koch, Walter Rudolf (30 September 2002). "Revisão Taxonômica do Gênero Homodiaetus (Teleostei, Siluriformes, Trichomycteridae) (Portuguese)" (PDF). Iheringia, Sér. Zool., Porto Alegre. 92 (3): 33–46. doi: 10.1590/s0073-47212002000300004 . Retrieved 2009-06-24.
  9. 1 2 3 4 Schaefer, Scott A.; Provenzano, Francisco; de Pinna, Mario; Baskin, Jonathan N. (November 29, 2005). "New and Noteworthy Venezuelan Glanapterygine Catfishes (Siluriformes, Trichomycteridae), with Discussion of Their Biogeography and Psammophily" (PDF). American Museum Novitates (3496): 1–27. doi:10.1206/0003-0082(2005)496[0001:NANVGC]2.0.CO;2. S2CID   19506818 . Retrieved 2009-06-24.
  10. 1 2 3 Nelson, Joseph S. (2006). Fishes of the World. John Wiley & Sons, Inc. ISBN   0-471-25031-7.
  11. ↑ de Pinna, Mario C. C. (August 9, 1989). "A New Sarcoglanidine Catfish, Phylogeny of Its Subfamily, and an Appraisal of the Phyletic Status of the Trichomycterinae (Teleostei, Trichomycteridae)" (PDF). American Museum Novitates (2950): 1–39. Retrieved 2009-06-24.
  12. ↑ Castellanos-Morales, Cesar A. (2007). "Trichomycterus santanderensis: A new species of troglomorphic catfish (Siluriformes, Trichomycteridae) from Colombia" (PDF). Zootaxa . 1541: 49–55. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.1541.1.5 . Retrieved 2009-06-24.
  13. ↑ Castellanos-Morales, Cesar A. (2008). "Trichomycterus uisae: a new species of hypogean catfish (Siluriformes: Trichomycteridae) from the northeastern Andean Cordillera of Colombia". Neotropical Ichthyology. 6 (3): 307–314. doi: 10.1590/S1679-62252008000300003 .
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