Pseudobunocephalus

Taxobox


image_width = 250px
image_caption =
name = "Pseudobunocephalus"
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Actinopterygii
ordo = Siluriformes
familia = Aspredinidae
genus = "Pseudobunocephalus"
genus_authority = Friel, 2008
type_species = "Pseudobunocephalus lundbergi"
type_species_authority = Friel, 2008
subdivision_ranks = Species
subdivision = See text.
synonyms =

"Pseudobunocephalus" is a genus of catfishes (order Siluriformes) of the family Aspredinidae.cite journal|journal=Neotropical Ichthyology|volume=6|issue=3|pages=293-300|year=2008|title="Pseudobunocephalus", a new genus of banjo catfish with the description of a new species from the Orinoco River system of Colombia and Venezuela (Siluriformes: Aspredinidae)|first=John P.|last=Friel]

Taxonomy

The species of "Pseudobunocephalus" were originally classified in the genus "Bunocephalus", but after further study it was found that these fish were unrelated to the type species "Bunocephalus verrucosus" or any of the other existing aspredinid genera. Thus, a new genus was described in 2008.

The species in this genus are as follows:
*"Pseudobunocephalus amazonicus" (Mees, 1989)
*"Pseudobunocephalus bifidus" (Eigenmann, 1942)
*"Pseudobunocephalus iheringii" (Boulenger, 1891)
*"Pseudobunocephalus lundbergi" Friel, 2008
*"Pseudobunocephalus quadriradiatus" (Mees, 1989)
*"Pseudobunocephalus rugosus" (Eigenmann & Kennedy, 1903)

"Pseudobunocephalus" is the most basal genus in the family, and represents the sister group to all other Aspredinidae. "P. lundbergi" is also the most basal species and is the sister taxon to the rest of the species in the genus.

Distribution

"Pseudobunocephalus" species are widespread in the Amazon, Orinoco, and Paraguay-Paraná River basins.

Description

Species of "Pseudobunocephalus" are small, all of them reaching less than 80 millimetres (3.1 in) SL. They are often mistaken at first glance with juvenile "Bunocephalus" species.cite paper|url=http://www.cumv.cornell.edu/pdf/Friel_Ph.D._Thesis_1994.pdf|title=A Phylogenetic Study of the Neotropical Banjo Catfishes (Teleostei: Siluriformes: Aspredinidae)|author=Friel, John Patrick|publisher=Duke University, Durham, NC|date=1994-12-13|accessdate=2007-08-07|format=PDF]

References