Stauroglanis gouldingi

Taxobox
name = "Stauroglanis gouldingi"
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Actinopterygii
ordo = Siluriformes
familia = Trichomycteridae
subfamilia = Sarcoglanidinae
genus = "Stauroglanis"
genus_authority = de Pinna, 1989
species = "S. gouldingi"
binomial = "Stauroglanis gouldingi"
binomial_authority = de Pinna, 1989

"Stauroglanis gouldingi" is a species of catfish (order Siluriformes) of the family Trichomycteridae, and the only species of the genus "Stauroglanis".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]

Taxonomy

"Stauroglanis gouldingi" was described as a new genus and species by Mario C. C. de Pinna in 1989.cite journal|url=http://digitallibrary.amnh.org/dspace/bitstream/2246/5105/1/N2950.pdf|title=A New Sarcoglanidine Catfish, Phylogeny of Its Subfamily, and an Appraisal of the Phyletic Status of the Trichomycterinae (Teleostei, Trichomycteridae)|first=Mario C. C.|last=de Pinna|journal=American Museum Novitates|issue=2950|pages=1–39|date=August 9, 1989|format=PDF] "Stauroglanis" is the sister group to a monophyletic group formed by "Malacoglanis" and "Sarcoglanis". These genera, among others, are part of the subfamily Sarcoglanidinae.

Distribution

This species is known from the Daraá River of the Rio Negro basin in Brazil.

Description

In "S. gouldingi", the eyes are large and conspicuous, the nasal barbels are present but very short, the snout region of the head is elongate, and the mouth subterminal and not suckerlike. It has an elongate body. The integument is very thin and transparent, and superficial muscles and some other internal structures are readily visible. This species grows to about 2.7 centimetres (1.1 in) SL.FishBase species|genus=Stauroglanis|species=gouldingi|year=2007|month=July] "S. gouldingi" has certain skeletal paedomorphic characteristics.

Ecology

During the day, "S. gouldingi" is found on patches of loose sand where the water flow forms ephemeral sand ripples.cite journal|title=Natural history of "Stauroglanis gouldingi" (Siluriformes: Trichomycteridae), a miniature sand-dwelling candiru from central Amazonian streamlets|first=Jansen|last=Zuanon|coauthors=Sazima, Ivan|journal=Ichthyol. Explor. Freshwaters|volume=15|issue=3|pages=201–208|date=September 2004] This species is a mostly visually oriented microcarnivore, foraging on immature aquatic insects. One foraging tactic of the species is movement along the ripple grooves while scanning the bottom back and forth, alternating between adjacent grooves. Feeding activity peaks at late morning and afternoon. When disturbed, "S. gouldingi" buries in the sand, and at night it remains completely buried. Seasonal reproduction has been indicated in the wet months, whereas no reproductive individuals have been found in the dry months.

The expansion of unpaved roads and the removal of riparian vegetation degrade forest stream dynamics and the ephemeral microhabitat of "S. gouldingi", which may result in its local extirpation.

References