Physopyxis

Taxobox
name = "Physopyxis"
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Actinopterygii
ordo = Siluriformes
familia = Doradidae
genus = "Physopyxis"
genus_authority = Cope, 1871
binomial = "Physopyxis ananas"
binomial_authority = de Sousa & Rapp Py-Daniel, 2005
binomial2 = "Physopyxis cristata"
binomial2_authority = de Sousa & Rapp Py-Daniel, 2005
binomial3 = "Physopyxis lyra"
binomial3_authority = Cope, 1871

"Physopyxis" is a genus of catfishes (order Siluriformes) of the family Doradidae. It includes three species, "P. ananas", "P. cristata", and "P. lyra".cite journal|url=http://www.ufrgs.br/ni/vol3num4%5CNI_v3n4p625-636lowr.pdf|title=Description of two new species of "Physopyxis" and redescription of "P. lyra" (Siluriformes: Doradidae)|first=Leandro M.|last=Sousa|coauthors=Rapp Py-Daniel, Lúcia H.|journal=Neotropical Ichthyology|volume=3|issue=4|pages=625–636|year=2005|format=PDF|doi=10.1590/S1679-62252005000400019]

Distribution

"P. lyra" is known from the Ampyiacu River (and lowland portions of other tributaries to the upper Amazon River in northeastern Peru) to the Uatumã River, a left bank tributary to the Amazon in eastern Amazonas State, Brazil. "P. ananas" has the widest distribution among the species of the genus, occurring throughout lowlands in entire Amazon (including Rio Negro) and Essequibo River basins. "P. cristata" has only been recorded from middle portion of the Negro River basin.

Description

"Physopyxis" have an extremely small size among doradids, not exceeding 31 millimetres (1.2 in) SL. Their pectoral fin spine reaches the base of the anal fin, and the dorsal fin spine is serrated only at the anterior margin of its base. There are three pairs of barbels, one pair of maxillary barbels and two pairs of mental barbels. The dorsal and pectoral fin spines are strongly ossified and well-developed.

"P. cristata" can be differentiated from the other species by its incomplete lateral line and a series of small spines along its dorsal midline. The other two species have complete lateral lines with well-developed plates that extend to the caudal fin. "P. lyra" has only one series of spines on its lateral plates and its adipose fin is usually present. The lateral plates have two or more series of spines in "P. ananas", and the adipose fin is usually absent.

Habitat

"Physopyxis" species are usually found in places with accumulated organic debris, like dense meshes of roots of floating macrophytes that are abundant in rivers with turbid water or submerged litter banks. Specimens also can be found among submerged leaf litter and among root mats of riparian plants, like "Symmeria paniculata" (Polygonaceae). "P. lyra" is predominantly nocturnal, and spends most of day time sheltered among submersed root mats or buried in sand. "P. ananas" and "P. lyra" have been found together among the submerged roots of aquatic macrophytes ("Paspallum repens", Poaceae) at Amanã Lake, Japurá River basin. They were also collected together in Nanay upstream from Iquitos. Dwarf cichlids of the genus "Apistogramma" and juvenile specimens of "Amblydoras" were found in the same habitat as "P. cristata."

References