Apistoloricaria

Taxobox
name = "Apistoloricaria"
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Actinopterygii
ordo = Siluriformes
familia = Loricariidae
subfamilia = Loricariinae
tribus = Loricariini
genus = "Apistoloricaria"
genus_authority = Isbrücker and Nijssen, 1986
type_species = "Apistoloricaria condei"
type_species_authority = Isbrücker & Nijssen, 1986
subdivision_ranks = Species
subdivision =
"Apistoloricaria condei"
Isbrücker & Nijssen, 1986
"Apistoloricaria laani"
Nijssen & Isbrücker, 1988
"Apistoloricaria listrorhinos"
Nijssen & Isbrücker, 1988
"Apistoloricaria ommation"
Nijssen & Isbrücker, 1988

"Apistoloricaria" is a genus of freshwater fish in the Loricariidae family of order Siluriformes. It includes four species, "A. condei", "A. laani", "A. istrorhinos", and "A. ommation". [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]

Taxonomy

The type species is "Apistoloricaria condei". The genus name comes from the Greek "apisto" meaning "uncertain" and the Latin "lorica" or "loricare" meaning "cuirass" or "corslet" of leather.FishBase genus | genus = Apistoloricaria | year = 2007 | month = May] "Apistoloricaria" is not well diagnosed and upon further examination, may prove to be a synonym of "Rhadinoloricaria".

Distribution and habitat

Representatives of this genus are distributed in the upper Amazon and Orinoco drainages, along the Atlantic slope of the Andes.cite journal|url=http://www.mapress.com/zootaxa/2007f/zt01462p040.pdf|title=The genera of the Neotropical armored catfish subfamily Loricariinae (Siluriformes: Loricariidae): a practical key and synopsis|first=Raphael|last=Covain|coauthors=Fisch-Muller, Sonia|journal=Zootaxa|volume=1462|pages=1–40|year=2007|format=PDF] "A. condei" is found in the Napo River.FishBase species|genus=Apistoloricaria|species=condei|year=2007|month=May] "A. laani" is found in the Meta River.FishBase species|genus=Apistoloricaria|species=laani|year=2007|month=May] "A. listrorhinos" is found in the Metica River.FishBase species|genus=Apistoloricaria|species=listrorhinos|year=2007|month=May] "A. ommation" is found in the Lower Marañón River.FishBase species|genus=Apistoloricaria|species=ommation|year=2007|month=May]

"A. condei" is found in turbid and dark waters, in moderately fast flowing streams, between 2–10 metres deep (6–33 feet); no submerged vegetation is found here, and the bottom was made of sand, mud, dead leaves, twigs, branches, and trunks.

Appearance and ecology

These fish range from 10–14 centimetres (4–5.5 in) SL. In members of this genus and other closely related genera, the body is strongly depressed and the pelvic fins are used for locomotion, enabling these fish to appear to “walk” on the substrate. Sexual dimorphism is apparent through differentiated lip structure. The lip surfaces of the male are rather papillose while those of the female are filamentous.

These species are abdomino-lip brooders; eggs are laid in a single layered mass, and are attached to the surface of the lower lip and abdomen of the male.

References