Bunocephalus

Taxobox


image_width = 250px
image_caption = "Bunocephalus verrucosus"
name = "Bunocephalus"
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Actinopterygii
ordo = Siluriformes
familia = Aspredinidae
subfamilia = Bunocephalinae
genus = "Bunocephalus"
genus_authority = Kner, 1855
type_species = "Platystacus verrucosus"
type_species_authority = Bloch, 1794
subdivision_ranks = Species
subdivision = See text.
synonyms =
*"Aspredo" Swainson, 1838
*"Platystacus" Bleeker, 1858
*"Dysichthys" Cope, 1874
*"Agmus" Eigenmann, 1910

"Bunocephalus" is a genus of catfishes (order Siluriformes) of the family Aspredinidae. Currently not a natural grouping, "Bunocephalus" contains species of an undescribed genus "Pseudobunocephalus". "B. coracoideus" is the most common species of banjo catfish that one might find among hobbyists in aquariums.

Taxonomy

"Bunocephalus" currently contains 14 species, according to Ferraris, 2007.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] However, in this scheme, "Bunocephalus" is a paraphyletic group. Thus, several species have been removed to the genus "Pseudobunocephalus".cite journal|journal=Neotropical Ichthyology|volume=6|issue=3|pages=293-300|year=2008|title="Pseudobunocephalus", a new genus of banjo catfish with the description of a new species from the Orinoco River system of Colombia and Venezuela (Siluriformes: Aspredinidae)|first=John P.|last=Friel] The remaining species are as follows:

*"Bunocephalus aleuropsis" Cope, 1870
*"Bunocephalus amaurus" Eigenmann, 1912
*"Bunocephalus chamaizelus" Eigenmann, 1912
*"Bunocephalus colombianus" Eigenmann, 1912
*"Bunocephalus coracoideus" (Cope, 1874)
*"Bunocephalus doriae" Boulenger, 1902
*"Bunocephalus knerii" Steindachner, 1882
*"Bunocephalus larai" Ihering, 1930
*"Bunocephalus verrucosus" (Walbaum, 1792)

The removal of "Pseudobunocephalus" from "Bunocephalus" was an attempt to make it monophyletic.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] Even in this reduced state, "Bunocephalus" is still the largest genus in the Aspredinidae. Several undescribed species remain.

Distribution

"Bunocephalus" is the most widely distributed aspredinid genus. It is found in Magdalena, Orinoco, Amazon, Paraguay-Paraná, and São Francisco Rivers. It is also the only aspredinid genus found west of the Andes, found in the Atrato, San Juan, and Patia Rivers.

Description

"Bunocephalus" is part of the family Aspredinidae, known as banjo catfishes for their large, flattened heads and slender tails that give the appearance of a banjo. Most species exhibit cryptic coloration, and the same holds true among "Bunocephalus" species. The skin is completely keratinized and is covered by large, unculiferous tubercles. "Bunocephalus" species may reach up to 12 centimetres (5 in) SL.

In the aquarium

"B. coracoideus" is the most common species of "banjo catfish" that one might find in the aquarium fishkeeping hobby.cite web|url=http://www.tolweb.org/Bunocephalus/15257|last=Friel|first=John P.|title=Bunocephalus Kner 1855|date=2000-04-14|publisher=Tree of Life Web Project|accessdate=2007-08-08] These fish are nocturnal. This species is peaceful and a good idea for a community aquarium.cite web|url=http://www.planetcatfish.com/cotm/cotm.php?article_id=51|title=PlanetCatfish::Catfish of the Month::June 1997|publisher=PlanetCatfish.com|date=2006-06-24|accessdate=2007-08-08] These fish may be kept with sand to allow them to bury themselves or with a flat rock to hide underneath. Reproduction has been accomplished in the home aquarium. These fish can be easily sexed because females are much fatter and fuller than males. The mating pair should be conditioned on live foods for at least a month. Spawning is induced by a larger water change; the pair will spawn within two days. Spawning occurs at night. Some sources say they spawn under a fallen leaf or on a large rock, incubating their eggs by sitting on them, while others list them as egg-scatterers.cite book|title=Exotic Tropical Fishes|last=Axelrod|first=Herbert R.|authorlink=Herbert R. Axelrod|coauthors=Emmens, C.; Burgess, W.;Pronek, N.|publisher=T.F.H. Publications|year=1996|isbn=0-87666-543-1]

External links

*cite web|url=http://www.tolweb.org/%27Pseudobunocephalus%27/15252|last=Friel|first=John P.|title='Pseudobunocephalus' new genus|date=2000-04-14|publisher=Tree of Life Web Project|accessdate=2007-08-08

References