Xyliphius

Taxobox
name = "Xyliphius"
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Actinopterygii
ordo = Siluriformes
familia = Aspredinidae
subfamilia = Hoplomyzontinae
genus = "Xyliphius"
genus_authority = Eigenmann, 1912
type_species = "Xyliphius magdalenae"
type_species_authority = Eigenmann, 1912
subdivision_ranks = Binomial name
subdivision =
"Xyliphius barbatus"
Alonso de Arámburu & Arámburu, 1962
"Xyliphius kryptos"
Taphorn & Lilystrom, 1983
"Xyliphius lepturus"
Orcés, 1962
"Xyliphius lombarderoi"
Risso & Risso, 1964
"Xyliphius magdalenae"
Eigenmann, 1912
"Xyliphius melanopterus"
Orcés, 1962

"Xyliphius" is a genus of catfishes (order Siluriformes) of the family Aspredinidae. It includes six species, "X. barbatus", "X. kryptos", "X. lepturus", "X. lombarderoi", "X. magdalenae", and "X. melanopterus".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]

This genus appears to be widespread in the Magdalena, Orinoco, Amazon, and Paraguay-Paraná River systems. "X. barbatus" originates from the Paraguay-Paraná River basin and "X. lombarderoi" from the Paraná River basin in Argentina. "X. kryptos" occurs in the Lake Maracaibo basin. "X. lepturus" is known from the upper Amazon and Orinoco River basins of Colombia, Ecuador and Venezuela. "X. magdalenae" inhabits the Magdalena River basin in Colombia. "X. melanopterus" is distributed in the upper Amazon and Orinoco River basins. These fishes are most common in deeper waters.cite paper|url=http://www.cumv.cornell.edu/pdf/Friel_Ph.D._Thesis_1994.pdf|title=A Phylogenetic Study of the Neotropical Banjo Catfishes (Teleostei: Siluriformes: Aspredinidae)|author=Friel, John Patrick|publisher=Duke University, Durham, NC|date=1994-12-13|accessdate=2007-08-07|format=PDF]

"Xyliphius" includes moderately sized aspredinids, ranging from 8.8–14.7 centimetres (3.5–5.8 in) SL.FishBase species|genus=Xyliphius|species=barbatus|year=2007|month=Aug] FishBase species|genus=Xyliphius|species=kryptos|year=2007|month=Aug] FishBase species|genus=Xyliphius|species=lepturus|year=2007|month=Aug] FishBase species|genus=Xyliphius|species=lombarderoi|year=2007|month=Aug] FishBase species|genus=Xyliphius|species=magdalenae|year=2007|month=Aug] FishBase species|genus=Xyliphius|species=melanopterus|year=2007|month=Aug] Species of this genus are distinguished from all other aspredinids by having highly reduced eyes, toothless premaxillae, a row of fleshy papillae projecting anteriorly off the lower lip, flattened unculi and unculiferous tubercles flattened. These species also have the openings of the anterior nares with papillae and no dark saddles on the body.

References