Silvinichthys

Taxobox
name = "Silvinichthys"
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Actinopterygii
ordo = Siluriformes
familia = Trichomycteridae
subfamilia = Trichomycterinae
genus = "Silvinichthys"
genus_authority = Arratia, 1998
type_species = "Trichomycterus mendozensis"
type_species_authority = Arratia, Chang, Menu-Marque & Rojas, 1978
subdivision_ranks = Binomial name
subdivision =
"Silvinichthys bortayro"
Fernández & de Pinna, 2005
"Silvinichthys mendozensis"
(Arratia, Chang, Menu-Marque & Rojas, 1978)

"Silvinichthys" is a genus of catfishes (order Siluriformes) of the family Trichomycteridae. It includes two species, "S. bortayro" and "S. mendozensis".cite journal|journal=Copeia|year=2005|issue=1|pages=100–108|title=Phreatic Catfish of the Genus "Silvinichthys" from Southern South America (Teleostei, Siluriformes, Trichomycteridae)|first=Luis|last=Fernández|coauthors=de Pinna, Mario C. C.|doi=10.1643/CI-03-158R2|volume=2005] 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]

Distribution

"S. bortayro" is known from artificial wells in the Salta Province, Argentina. "S. mendozensis" is endemic to the Andean foothill range of Mendoza between 1500–1700 metres (4900–5600 ft) altitude, and is not found underground.

Description

"S. bortayro" has many specializations due to its subterranean lifestyle, such as loss of fins, reduction of eyes and pigmentation, and loss of cryptic behavior.

"S. bortayro" differs from "S. mendozensis" in having 6 versus 7 or 8 pectoral-fin rays and the absence versus presence of the pelvic fin and pelvic girdle. "S. bortayro" is known to grow to 2.8 centimetres (1.1 in) SL.FishBase species|genus=Silvinichthys|species=bortayro|year=2007|month=July] "S. mendozensis" is known to grow to 7.3 cm (2.9 in) SL.FishBase species|genus=Silvinichthys|species=mendozensis|year=2007|month=July]

Ecology

"S. bortayro" represents the first trichomycterid discovered to occur in phreatic habitats, living in groundwater below the water table. The bottom of the wells is composed of sand and lime, and the water is transparent and less than 1 m (3 ft) deep.

Conservation

"S. bortayro" is at risk of extinction and conservation efforts are necessary to prevent contamination of its habitat. [cite journal|title=Risk of Extinction of a Rare Catfish of Andean Groundwater and its Priority for Conservation|first=Luis|last=Fernandez|journal=AMBIO: A Journal of the Human Environment|volume=34|issue=3|date=May 2005|pages=269–270|doi=10.1639/0044-7447(2005)034 [0269:ROEOAR] 2.0.CO;2|doilabel=10.1639/0044-7447(2005)034[0269:ROEOAR]2.0.CO;2]

References