Iheringichthys

Taxobox
name = "Iheringichthys"
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Actinopterygii
ordo = Siluriformes
familia = Pimelodidae
genus = "Iheringichthys"
genus_authority = Eigenmann and Norris, 1900
subdivision_ranks = Species
subdivision =
* "I. labrosus"
(Lütken, 1874)
* "I. megalops"
Eigenmann & Ward, 1907

"Iheringichthys" is a small genus of catfish (order Siluriformes) of the family Pimelodidae. It includes two species, "I. labrosus" and "I. megalops". [ITIS|ID=679561|taxon="Iheringichthys"|year=2007|date=June 3]

Distribution

Both species of "Iheringichthys" are distributed in the Paraná River basin. [FishBase species|genus=Iheringichthys|species=labrosus|year=2007|month=June] [FishBase species|genus=Iheringichthys|species=megalops|year=2007|month=June]

Appearance and anatomy

"Iheringichthys" species have a narrow, small mouth positioned to point downwards.

Ecology

"I. labrosus" has been studied to feed off of the bottom, mainly at dawn and during daytime hours. Main items in the diet of "I. labrosus" are aquatic insects (mainly Chironomidae) and mollusks (mainly Bivalvia).cite journal|url=http://www.scielo.br/pdf/babt/v44n1/a14v44n1.pdf|title=Diet of "Iheringichthys labrosus" (Pimelodidae, Siluriformes) in the Itaipu Reservoir, Paraná River, Brazil-Paraguay|first=Sara da Silva|last=Abes|coauthors=Agostinho, Angelo Antonio; Okada, Edson Kiyoshi; Gomes, Luiz Carlos|journal=Brazilian Archives of Biology and Technology|volume=44|number=1|pages=101–105|date=March, 2001|id=ISSN: 1516-8913|format=PDF] Studies on "I. labrosus" demonstrates that this species is non-migratory and does not exhibit any parental care.cite journal|url=http://www.scielo.br/pdf/rbzool/v21n2/20849.pdf|title=Reproduction of the catfish "Iheringichthys labrosus" (Lütken) in Furnas reservoir, Minas Gerais, Brazil|first=José Enemir dos|last=Santos|coauthors=Bazzoli, Nilo; Rizzo, Elizete; Santos, Gilmar Bastos|journal=Revista Brasileira de Zoologia|volume=21|issue=2|pages=193–200|year=2004|format=PDF|doi=10.1590/S0101-81752004000200006] These fish reproduce all year, with spawning peaking from February to May.

Relationship to humans

"I. labrosus" is a secondary commercial fish species in the Itaipu Reservoir. With the end of the trophic upsurge period in the Itaipu Reservoir, secondary species may become important resources for the commercial fishery, including "I. labrosus". It is an important fish species in other reservoirs of the basin, especially Promissão and Água Vermelha Reservoirs. It is also an important sport fish in the sand beaches (“mandizeiros”) fishery along the upper Paraná River channel and main tributaries.

References