Paracanthopoma

Taxobox
name = "Paracanthopoma parva"
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Actinopterygii
ordo = Siluriformes
familia = Trichomycteridae
subfamilia = Vandelliinae
genus = "Paracanthopoma"
genus_authority = Giltay, 1935
type_species = "Paracanthopoma parva"
type_species_authority = Giltay, 1935
subdivision_ranks = Binomial name
subdivision =
"Paracanthopoma parva"
Giltay, 1935
"Paracanthopoma sp. ("bad-boy")"
Zuanon & Sazima, 2005

"Paracanthopoma" is a genus of catfishes (order Siluriformes) of the family Trichomycteridae. It contains one described species, "P. parva". [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] "P. parva" grows to about 2.7 centimetres (1.1 in) SL and originates from the Amazon and Essequibo River basins.FishBase species|genus=Paracanthopoma|species=parva|year=2007|month=July]

An undescribed species of "Paracanthopoma" has been found to ride "Zungaro zungaro" catfish; their snouts were buried up to the eyes in the tough skin on the host’s caudal and pectoral fins, as well as the base of the dorsal fin. "Paracanthopoma parva" has been found on the gills of another species of giant catfish, "Brachyplatystoma vaillanti". Species within the genus "Paracanthopoma" have the longest and most robust snout, and the longest and strongest dentary teeth among blood-feeding candirus, which fit their drilling needs. Riding on a giant host is advantageous for dispersal, no need to search for hosts to feed, and protection from predators. It is unlikely that "Paracanthopoma" takes blood from the tiny holes it drills in the skin; the areas these fish attach to have no large blood vessels to supply them with blood, and fish that have been riding are found only with trace amounts of blood in their digestive tracts. Also, most vandelliine candirus take blood from the gill region of their hosts.cite journal|url=http://www.scielo.br/pdf/bn/v5n1/v5n1a11.pdf|title=Free Meals on Long-Distance Cruisers: The Vampire Fish Rides Giant Catfishes in the Amazon|first=Jansen|last=Zuanon|coauthors=Sazima, Ivan|journal=Biota Neotropica|volume=5|issue=1|year=2005|format=PDF|doi=10.1590/S1676-06032005000100012]

References

External links

* [http://sazima.net Sazima Network] - Relevant Scientific Papers and Pictures.