Rhamphichthyidae

Taxobox
name = Sand knifefish
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Actinopterygii
ordo = Gymnotiformes
subordo = Sternopygoidei
superfamilia = Rhamphichthyoidea
familia = Rhamphichthyidae
subdivision_ranks = Genera
subdivision = "Gymnoramphichthys"
"Iracema"
"Ramphichthys"

Sand knifefishes are freshwater fishes of the Rhamphichthyidae family, from South America. There are only 3 genera and around 15 species in this group.cite book | title = Fishes of the World | last = Nelson | first = Joseph, S. | publisher = John Wiley & Sons, Inc. | year = 2006 | id = ISBN 0471250317]

Just like most part of the members of the Gymnotiformes group, they also have elongated and compressed bodies and electric organs. The long anal fin actuall extends from before the pectoral fins to the tip of the tail. There is no dorsal fin.FishBase family | family = Rhamphichthyidae | year = 2007 | month = Apr] Teeth are absent in the oral jaws and the snout is very long and tubular. The nostrils are very close together. This group is sometimes known as the tubesnout knifefishes for this reason.

They are nocturnal and burrow in the sand during the day.

pecies

Species list below is according to ITIS.ITIS | ID = 163331 | taxon = Rhamphichthyidae | year = 2007 | date = 02 Apr]
*"Gymnorhamphichthys" Ellis in Eigenmann, 1912
**"Gymnorhamphichthys hypostomus" Ellis in Eigenmann, 1912
**"Gymnorhamphichthys petiti" Géry and Vu-Tân-Tuê, 1964
**"Gymnorhamphichthys rondoni" (Miranda Ribeiro, 1920)
**"Gymnorhamphichthys rosamariae" Schwassmann, 1989
*"Iracema" Triques, 1996
**"Iracema caiana" Triques, 1996
*"Rhamphichthys" Müller and Troschel, 1849
**"Rhamphichthys apurensis" (Fernández-Yépez, 1968)
**"Rhamphichthys atlanticus" Triques, 1999
**"Rhamphichthys drepanium" Triques, 1999
**"Rhamphichthys hahni" (Meinken, 1937)
**"Rhamphichthys lineatus" Castelnau, 1855
**"Rhamphichthys longior" Triques, 1999
**"Rhamphichthys marmoratus" Castelnau, 1855
**"Rhamphichthys rostratus" (Linnaeus, 1766)
**"Rhamphichthys schomburgki" Kaup, 1856

ee also

* List of fish families

References