Aspredinichthys

Aspredinichthys
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Siluriformes
Family:	Aspredinidae
Subfamily:	Aspredininae
Genus:	Aspredinichthys Bleeker, 1858
Type species
Aspredo tibicen Valenciennes, 1840
Species
Aspredinichthys filamentosus Aspredinichthys tibicen
Synonyms
Chamaigenes Eigenmann, 1910

Aspredinichthys is a genus of catfishes (order Siluriformes) of the family Aspredinidae. It includes two species, A. filamentosus and A. tibicen.^[1]

Distribution

This genus occurs from the Orinoco delta, through the Guianas, to the Amazon delta.^[2] Both species are found in lower portions of rivers and in coastal waters of northern South America from Venezuela to northern Brazil.^[1]

Description

Aspredinichthys species are large aspredinids that grow up to about 22.0 centimetres (8.7 in) SL; they are distinguished from all other aspredinids by the characters including having 8 pectoral-fin rays and several pairs of accessory mental barbels present.^[3] The two species placed in this genus are very similar in appearance and are most readily separated by the pattern and number of accessory mental barbels.^[3]

Ecology

Aspredinichthys are benthic fish.^[4][5] A. filamentosus lives on sandy-muddy littoral waters, estuaries, and flooded zones of rivers.^[4] A. tibicen occurs mainly in brackish water and is found on soft bottoms of shallow turbid water near river mouths.^[5]

A. filamentosus reproduce in April and June, while A. tibicen reproduce in March and June.^[4][5] Both species share with the other aspredinines the peculiar mode of egg incubation wherein the female banjo catfish carries the eggs firmly attached to the underside of the body. This seems to be an adaptation to facilitate the oxygenation of the eggs in muddy environments.^[4][5]

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Ferraris, Carl J., Jr. (2007). "Checklist of catfishes, recent and fossil (Osteichthyes: Siluriformes), and catalogue of siluriform primary types" (PDF). Zootaxa 1418: 1–628. http://silurus.acnatsci.org/ACSI/library/biblios/2007_Ferraris_Catfish_Checklist.pdf. 
2. ^ Friel, John P. (2000-04-14). "Aspredinichthys Bleeker 1858". Tree of Life Web Project. http://tolweb.org/Aspredinichthys/15265. Retrieved 2007-08-07. 
3. ^ ^{a b} Friel, John Patrick (1994-12-13) (PDF). A Phylogenetic Study of the Neotropical Banjo Catfishes (Teleostei: Siluriformes: Aspredinidae). Duke University, Durham, NC. http://www.cumv.cornell.edu/pdf/Friel_Ph.D._Thesis_1994.pdf. Retrieved 2007-08-07. 
4. ^ ^{a b c d} Froese, Rainer, and Daniel Pauly, eds. (2007). "Aspredinichthys filamentosus" in FishBase. Aug 2007 version.
5. ^ ^{a b c d} Froese, Rainer, and Daniel Pauly, eds. (2007). "Aspredinichthys tibicen" in FishBase. Aug 2007 version.