Rhynchodoras

Taxobox
name = "Rhynchodoras"
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Actinopterygii
ordo = Siluriformes
familia = Doradidae
genus = "Rhynchodoras"
genus_authority = Klausewitz & Rössel, 1961
type_species = "Rhynchodoras xingui"
type_species_authority = Klausewitz & Rössel, 1961
subdivision_ranks = Binomial name
subdivision =
"Rhynchodoras castilloi"
Birindelli, Sabaj & Taphorn, 2007
"Rhynchodoras woodsi"
Glodek, 1976
"Rhynchodoras xingui"
Klausewitz & Rössel, 1961

"Rhynchodoras" is a small genus of catfishes (order Siluriformes) of the family Doradidae. It includes only three species, "R. castilloi", "R. woodsi", and "R. xingui". [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] "Rhynchodoras" is closely related to "Rhinodoras" and "Orinocodoras".

Distribution

"R. castilloi" is found in the Apure River, a tributary of the Orinoco, in Venezuela; it is found only in deep water.cite web|url=http://www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/pfk/pages/item.php?news=1372|title=New doradid has proboscoid mouth|first=Heok Hee|last=Ng|publisher=Practical Fishkeeping|date=2007-09-10] "R. woodsi" is found in the Bobonaza River (a tributary of the Pastaza River) of the upper Amazon River drainage in eastern Ecuador. "R. xingui" is from the Xingu River of eastern-central Brazil.

Physical description

"Rhynchodoras" species are distinguished from all other doradids by their highly modified jaws which are strongly compressed, elongate, forceps-like in appearance, and project ventrally.cite journal|title="Rhynchodoras woodsi", A New Catfish from Eastern Ecuador (Siluriformes: Doradidae) with a Redefinition of "Rhynchodoras"|first=Garrett S.|last=Glodek|journal=Copeia|year=1976|issue=1|pages=43–46|doi=10.2307/1443769|volume=1976] The head is large and longer than it is wide, with a somewhat conical shape. There are three pairs of barbels, one pair of maxillary barbels and two pairs of mental barbels. Barbs occur on the dorsal fin and pectoral fin spines; on the anterior surface, barbs are curved towards the tip of the spine, and on the posterior surface are recurved away from the tip of the spine. The caudal fin is forked. There is a series of spined, lateral plates called scutes. Eyes are relatively small.

"R. woodsi" can be differentiated from "R. xingui" by a smaller eye and a slightly longer upper jaw than lower jaw. Also, "R. woodsi" is known to grow to about 10.5 centimetres (4.1 in) SL while "R. xingui" is only known to grow to 6.3 cm (2.5 in) SL.FishBase species|genus=Rhynchodoras|species=woodsi|year=2007|month=June] FishBase species|genus=Rhynchodoras|species=xingui|year=2007|month=June] "R. castilloi" differs from "R. woodsi" by having abundant, punctate tubercles on the body, and it differs from "R. xingui" in the number of form of its scutes.

In the aquarium

"R. woodsi" has been kept in the aquarium. A timid fish species, they should not be kept with boisterous tankmates. Active at night, they will hide throughout the day. Though they will eventually recognize prepared foods, it is best to acclimate these fish on frozen brine shrimp. They have an affinity for wood, which should be included as part of the aquarium furniture. [cite web|url=http://www.planetcatfish.com/cotm/cotm.php?article_id=297|title=PlanetCatfish::Catfish of the Month::September 2005|publisher=PlanetCatfish.com|date=2005-09-18|accessdate=2007-06-20]

References