Loach catfish

Taxobox
name = Loach catfishes
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Actinopterygii
ordo = Siluriformes
familia = Amphiliidae
familia_authority = Regan, 1911
subdivision_ranks = Genera
subdivision = Subfamily Amphiliinae
"Amphilius"
"Paramphilius"
Subfamily Leptoglanidinae
"Dolichamphilius"
"Leptoglanis"
"Psammphiletria"
"Tetracamphilius"
"Zaireichthys"
Subfamily Doumeinae
"Andersonia"
"Belonoglanis"
"Doumea"
"Phractura"
"Trachyglanis"

Loach catfishes, Amphiliidae, are a family of catfishes (order Siluriformes). 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.cite book|title=Fishes of the World|last=Nelson|first=Joseph S.|publisher=John Wiley & Sons, Inc|year=2006|isbn=0-471-25031-7] There are 12 genera and 66 species.

Amphiliidae consists of three subfamilies, Amphiliinae, Leptoglanidinae (previously misspelled Leptoglaninae), and Doumeinae.cite journal|url=http://silurus.acnatsci.org/ACSI/library/biblios/2007_Ferraris_Catfish_Checklist.pdf|title=Checklist of catfishes, recent and fossil (Osteichthyes: Siluriformes), and catalogue of siluriform primary types|first=Carl J., Jr.|last=Ferraris|journal=Zootaxa|volume=1418|pages=1–628|year=2007|format=PDF] The monophyly of Amphiliidae has been questioned; one author restricts the family to the members of the subfamily Amphiliinae and transferred the other genera to a family Doumeidae. Amphiliidae has been previously thought to be a basal taxon in the superfamily Loricarioidea, but some authors place its relationships elsewhere.cite journal|journal=Mol Phylogenet Evol.|year=2006|volume=41|issue=3|pages=636–62|title=A phylogenetic analysis of the major groups of catfishes (Teleostei: Siluriformes) using rag1 and rag2 nuclear gene sequences|last=Sullivan|first=JP|coauthors=Lundberg JG; Hardman M|doi=10.1016/j.ympev.2006.05.044]

Amphiliids are generally small catfishes with a tapered and elongate body. The pectoral and ventral fins are large usually with a first broad, flexible, and filamentous ray. The eyes are generally small and located dorsally. The gas bladder is reduced and divided into two lobes which are surrounded of osseous capsules.cite encyclopedia|url=http://horizon.documentation.ird.fr/exl-doc/pleins_textes/pleins_textes_6/Fau_trop/36567.pdf|title=Amphiliidae (French)|first=Paul H.|last=Skelton|encyclopedia=Faune des poissons d'eaux douces et saumâtres d'Afrique de l'Ouest|volume=Tome 2|pages=450-467|year=1992|publisher=Musée Royal de l'Afrique Centrale, Tervuren, Belgique and O.R.S.T.O.M., Paris, France, 902|format=PDF] These catfishes have three pairs of barbels (nasal barbels are absent). The dorsal and pectoral spines are absent (or weakly developed, as in Leptoglanidinae and "Trachyglanis"). They reach 19 centimetres (7.5 in) at a maximum, but most species do not exceed 12 cm (4.7 in). A small ventral mouth with thick, papillated lips, as well as tentacles and minute spines on fin rays, ensure adhesion in certain amphiliids.cite journal|url=http://www.naturalsciences.be/institute/associations/rbzs_website/bjz/back/pdf/BJZ%20137(1)/Volume%20137(1),%20pp.%2047-66.pdf|title=A head with a suckermouth : a functional-morphological study of the head of the suckermouth armoured catfish "Ancistrus" cf. "triradiatus" (Loricariidae, Siluriformes)|first=Tom|last=Geerinckx|coauthors=Brunain, Marleen; Herrel, Anthony; Aerts, Peter; Adriaens, Dominique|journal=Belg. J. Zool.|volume=137|issue=1|pages=47–66|month=January | year=2007|format=PDF]

The biology and ecology of these fishes is poorly known. They are of little economic value, though they may be of some interest to aquarists.

References