Auchenipterichthys

Taxobox
name = "Auchenipterichthys"
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Actinopterygii
ordo = Siluriformes
familia = Auchenipteridae
subfamilia = Auchenipterinae
genus = "Auchenipterichthys"
genus_authority = Bleeker, 1862
type_species = "Auchenipterus thoracatus"
type_species_authority = Kner, 1857
subdivision_ranks = Binomial name
subdivision =
"Auchenipterichthys coracoideus"
(Eigenmann & Allen, 1942)
"Auchenipterichthys longimanus"
(Günther, 1864)
"Auchenipterichthys punctatus"
(Valenciennes, 1840)
"Auchenipterichthys thoracatus"
(Kner, 1857)

"Auchenipterichthys" is a genus of catfishes (order Siluriformes) of the family Auchenipteridae. It includes four species, "A. coracoideus", "A. longimanus", "A. punctatus", and "A. thoracatus".cite journal|url=http://www.ufrgs.br/ni/vol3num1/Ferraris%20et%20al.pdf|title=Catfishes of the genus "Auchenipterichthys" (Osteichthyes: Siluriformes: Auchenipteridae); a revisionary study|first=Carl J., Jr.|last=Ferraris|coauthors=Vari, Richard P.; Raredon, Sandra J.|journal=Neotropical Ichthyology|volume=3|issue=1|pages=89–106|year=2005|format=PDF|doi=10.1590/S1679-62252005000100005]

Taxonomy

"Auchenipterichthys" was first described by Pieter Bleeker in 1862, who designated "A. thoracatus" (originally described by Kner in 1857 as "Auchenipterus thoracatus") as the type species. There are no derived states that is unique to this genus; however, there is no evidence that has been advanced to indicate that this genus is not monophyletic.

Distribution

"A. coracoideus" inhabits the Tocantins River, central and upper portions of the Amazon River, and the Essequibo River basins. "A. longimanus" are found in the Orinoco River basin in Venezuela, lower and middle portions of the Amazon, and the Tocantins Rivers in Brazil. "A. punctatus" originates in the upper portions of the Orinoco River basin in Venezuela, the Rio Negro basin in Venezuela and Brazil, and the central portions of the Amazon River basin in Brazil. "A. thoracatus" lives in the upper portions of the Madeira River basin in Bolivia and Brazil.

Description

The eyes of these catfish are large and can be seen from both above and below the fish. The anal fin has a long base and at least 18 branched fin rays. The side of the body is decorated with vertical rows of spots above the lateral line. The adipose fin is present.

The lateral line has an irregular zigzag pattern. The head is flattened anteriorly with a terminal mouth. There are three pairs of thread-like barbels, one pair maxillary and two pairs mandibular. The dorsal fin and pectoral fins have large spines; the dorsal fin spine has a lower degree of serration than the pectoral fin spines, which is always serrated strongly on the entire length of both margins.

Based on similarities, the species fall into two groups. One group consists of "A. coracoideus" and "A. thoracatus" which have a coracoid covered by a thin layer of integument (allowing the coracoid to be seen from below) and an obliquely truncated caudal fin. The other includes "A. longimanus" and "A. punctatus" which has a thick layer of skin covering the coracoid and an emarginate or symmetrical caudal fin. "A. coracoideus" typically has 25 or fewer branched anal fin rays, while "A. thoracatus" typically has 26 or more branched anal-fin rays. "A. punctatus" has a body with variably sized dark spots scattered over the body and the fins, while "A. longimanus" does not.

Species of "Auchenipterichthys" are sexually dimorphic. Breeding males of "A. coracoideus" have an elongated dorsal fin spine. In "A. longimanus" and "A. thoracatus", serrae on the end of the dorsal fin spine are proportionally longer in breeding males than in juveniles and females. Also, females have an enlarged urogenital opening. Males have their urogenital opening located at the end of a tube bound by integument to the anterior margin of the anal fin. The males use their modified anal fin as a means of internal insemination; the female can later lay the eggs in isolation.

Ecology

"Auchenipterichthys" species are insectivores. "A. longimanus" has been reported to feed primarily on terrestrial invertebrates. There is also evidence that "A. longimanus" is involved in seed dispersal. [cite journal|url=http://www.journals.cambridge.org/action/displayAbstract?fromPage=online&aid=141109|title=Evidence for seed dispersal by the catfish "Auchenipterichthys longimanus" in an Amazonian lake|first=Simone|last=Mannheimer|coauthors=Bevilacqua, Gabriela; Caramaschi, Érica P.; Scarano, Fábio Rubio|volume=19|pages=215–218|year=2003|doi=10.1017/S0266467403003249|journal=Journal of Tropical Ecology] "Auchenipterichthys" species are also capable of producing sound. [cite web|url=http://www.csupomona.edu/~biotrek/aquatic/fishsounds/auchenipterichthys.html|title=Sound-Producing Fishes "Auchenipterichthys" Zamora Catfish|publisher=BioTrek at Cal Poly Pomona|date=2004-01-25|accessdate=2007-06-10]

In the aquarium

"A. coracoideus" appears in the aquarium hobby, named the zamora woodcat or the midnight catfish. These fish usually do not venture out into light and will prefer to spend the day tightly sheltered in small spaces. It is a robust species that is suitable for community aquaria, but can't be trusted with small fish that it may consume.cite web|url=http://www.planetcatfish.com/cotm/cotm.php?article_id=105|title=PlanetCatfish::Catfish of the Month::July 2001|date=2006-05-01|accessdate=2007-06-10]

References