Lithogenes

Taxobox
name = "Lithogenes"
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Actinopterygii
ordo = Siluriformes
familia = Loricariidae
subfamilia = Lithogeneinae
subfamilia_authority = Gosline, 1947
genus = "Lithogenes"
genus_authority = Eigenmann, 1909
subdivision_ranks = Species [ITIS|ID=639232|taxon="Lithogenes"|year=2007|date=May 05]
subdivision = "L. valencia"
"L. villosus"

"Lithogenes" is a genus of catfish (order Siluriformes) of the family Loricariidae. It is the only genus within the subfamily Lithogeneinae. This genus contains two species: "L. villosus", the type species, and "L. valencia", a possibly extinct species.

Taxonomy

"L. villosus" was described in 1909 by Carl H. Eigenmann. "L. valencia" was described in 2003 by Provenzano et al, known by only six specimens.cite journal|url=http://www.bioone.org/archive/0045-8511/2003/3/pdf/i0045-8511-2003-3-562.pdf|title=New, Possibly Extinct Lithogenine Loricariid (Siluriformes, Loricariidae) from Northern Venezuela|first=Francisco|last=Provenzano R.|coauthors=Schaefer, Scott A.; Baskin, Jonathan N.; Royero-Leon, Ramiro|journal=Copeia|year=2003|issue=3|pages=562–575|publisher=American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists|format=PDF|doi=10.1643/CI-02-160R1|volume=2003]

"Lithogenes" is the only genus within the subfamily Lithogeneinae. This genus and subfamily, the most basal group in Loricariidae, is the sister group to the rest of the family.cite journal|url=http://www.bioone.org/archive/0003-0082/3401/1/pdf/i0003-0082-3401-1-1.pdf|title=Relationships of "Lithogenes villosus" Eigenmann, 1909 (Siluriformes, Loricariidae): Evidence from High-Resolution Computed Microtomography|first=Scott A.|last=Schaefer|publisher=American Museum of Natural History|year=2003|journal=American Museum Novitates|volume=3401|pages=1–55|format=PDF|doi=10.1206/0003-0082(2003)401<0001:ROLVES>2.0.CO;2|doilabel=10.1206/0003-0082(2003)4010001:ROLVES2.0.CO;2] Relative to an undescribed species of Lithogeneinae, "L. valencia" has sister group relationship to "L. villosus".

Appearance and anatomy

As members of Loricariidae, "Lithogenes" species have a suckermouth. However, unlike most loricariids, "Lithogenes" possesses armor plating only on the latter half of the body. Their eyes are small and their bodies flattened.

Distribution and habitat

"L. villosus" originates from the Essequibo River drainage of the Guiana Shield.FishBase species|genus=Lithogenes|species=villosus|year=2007|month=May] An undescribed species of "Lithogenes" is known from the Orinoco basin of the Guiana Shield. "L. valencia" has only been known from six specimens collected in the 1970s from tributaries of the Lake Valencia in north Venezuela; however, this area has since been polluted and it is possible this species is now extinct.

"L. villosus" lives in habitats dominated by rapids over bedrock, and it is likely that "L. valencia" does as well.

References