Zaireichthys

Taxobox
name = "Zaireichthys"
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Actinopterygii
ordo = Siluriformes
familia = Amphiliidae
subfamilia = Leptoglanidinae
genus = "Zaireichthys"
genus_authority = Roberts, 1967
type_species = "Zaireichthys zonatus"
type_species_authority = Roberts, 1967
subdivision_ranks = Binomial name
subdivision =
"Zaireichthys brevis"
(Boulenger, 1915)
"Zaireichthys camerunensis"
(Daget & Stauch, 1963)
"Zaireichthys dorae"
(Poll, 1967)
"Zaireichthys flavomaculatus"
(Pellegrin, 1926)
"Zaireichthys heterurus"
Roberts, 2003
"Zaireichthys mandevillei"
(Poll, 1959)
"Zaireichthys rotundiceps"
(Hilgendorf, 1905)
"Zaireichthys wamiensis"
(Seegers, 1989)
"Zaireichthys zonatus"
Roberts, 1967

"Zaireichthys" is a genus of catfishes (order Siluriformes) of the family Amphiliidae. It includes nine species, "Z. brevis", "Z. camerunensis", "Z. dorae", "Z. flavomaculatus", "Z. heterurus", "Z. mandevillei", "Z. rotundiceps", "Z. wamiensis", and "Z. zonatus".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

"Zaireichthys" species are found in Africa. "Z. brevis" and "Z. zonatus" occur in the Congo River basin. "Z. heterurus" is distributed in the eastern Congo River basin. "Z. camerunensis" inhabits the upper Benue River in Cameroon and the upper Niger River in Guinea. "Z. dorae" originates from Luachimo of the Congo Basin in Angola. "Z. flavomaculatus" is known only from the type locality of Lulua River of the southern Congo. "Z. mandevillei" ranges in the Stanley Pool of the Congo River at Ubangui and Lualaba. It is confined to sandy reaches of the mainstream of the Congo River and its largest tributaries.FishBase species|genus=Zaireichthys|species=mandivillei|year=2007|month=Aug] "Z. rotundiceps" occurs in the Cunene, Okavango, Zambezi, Pungwe, Buse, Save, Lake Malawi, and Lake Rukwa basins. "Z. wamiensis" lives in the Wami River basin in Tanzania.

Description

"Z. heterurus" and "Z. mandevillei" have a broad, black collar just behind the head, while it is not present in "Z. camerunensis", "Z. rotundiceps".FishBase species|genus=Zaireichthys|species=heterurus|year=2007|month=Aug] FishBase species|genus=Zaireichthys|species=camerunensis|year=2007|month=Aug] "Z. mandevillei" has a spotted colour pattern. The colouration of "Z. rotundiceps" is highly variable, from abundant dark spots in several rows to a light pale spotting pattern; marks are often present on the head and fins as well as the body. In "Z. zonatus", the body has vertical bands with darkened margins.

The barbels are attenuate, with the maxillary barbels extending posteriorly to middle to end of the pectoral fin spine and the caudal peduncle is slender in "Z. heterurus" and "Z. mandevillei". The humeral process of the pectoral girdle is short and without denticulations in "Z. camerunensis" and "Z. mandevillei", short and with a few fine denticulations at its tips in "Z. zonatus", moderately long with poorly-developed or fine denticulations in "Z. dorae", "Z. flavomaculatus", and "Z. rotundiceps", and long and stout without denticulations in "Z. heterurus". The neural and hemal spines tend to be simple and slender in "Z. camerunensis" and "Z. dorae". In "Z. heterurus" and "Z. mandevillei" the caudal fin is deeply forked, with the upper lobe much shorter and smaller than the lower lobe; also, the fin rays in lower lobe noticeable thicker than those in upper lobe. However, in "Z. rotundiceps" the caudal fin shape is variable, from slightly forked through, emarginate, truncate, or even slightly rounded, but not deeply forked. The dorsal and pectoral fins have strong and stout spines. "Zaireichthys" species range between about 2.5–3.9 centimetres (1.0–1.5 in) in length.FishBase species|genus=Zaireichthys|species=zonatus|year=2007|month=Aug] FishBase species|genus=Zaireichthys|species=flavomaculatus|year=2007|month=Aug]

Ecology

"Z. rotundiceps" inhabits fairly shallow water. "Z. dorae" and "Z. rotundiceps" occur over sand, usually buried with just the eyes protruding.FishBase species|genus=Zaireichthys|species=dorae|year=2007|month=Aug] "Z. zonatus" are found only at the edges of a sandy areas, although their habitat is very rocky.FishBase species|genus=Zaireichthys|species=zonatus|year=2007|month=Aug] It feeds on minute organisms. Its eggs are few (12–16) and large (3–5 millimetres or .1–.2 in diameter), suggesting possible parental care.FishBase species|genus=Zaireichthys|species=rotundiceps|year=2007|month=Aug]

References