Lithogenes
| Lithogenes | |
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| Subfamily: | Lithogeneinae Gosline, 1947
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| Genus: | Lithogenes Eigenmann, 1909
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| Species[1] | |
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L. valencia | |
Lithogenes is a genus of catfish (order Siluriformes) of the family Loricariidae. It is the only genus within the subfamily Lithogeneinae. This genus contains two species: L. villosus, the type species, and L. valencia, a possibly extinct species.
Taxonomy
L. villosus was described in 1909 by Carl H. Eigenmann. L. valencia was described in 2003 by Provenzano et al, known by only six specimens.[2]
Lithogenes is the only genus within the subfamily Lithogeneinae. This genus and subfamily, the most basal group in Loricariidae, is the sister group to the rest of the family.[3] Relative to an undescribed species of Lithogeneinae, L. valencia has sister group relationship to L. villosus.[2]
Appearance and anatomy
As members of Loricariidae, Lithogenes species have a suckermouth. However, unlike most loricariids, Lithogenes possesses armor plating only on the latter half of the body. Their eyes are small and their bodies flattened.[3][2]
Distribution and habitat
L. villosus originates from the Essequibo River drainage of the Guiana Shield.[4] An undescribed species of Lithogenes is known from the Orinoco basin of the Guiana Shield.[2] L. valencia has only been known from six specimens collected in the 1970s from tributaries of the Lake Valencia in north Venezuela; however, this area has since been polluted and it is possible this species is now extinct.[2]
L. villosus lives in habitats dominated by rapids over bedrock, and it is likely that L. valencia does as well.[3][2]
References
- ^ "Lithogenes". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. May 05.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=and|year=/|date=mismatch (help) - ^ a b c d e f Provenzano R., Francisco (2003). "New, Possibly Extinct Lithogenine Loricariid (Siluriformes, Loricariidae) from Northern Venezuela" (PDF). Copeia. 2003 (3). American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists: 562–575. doi:10.1643/CI-02-160R1.
{{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - ^ a b c Schaefer, Scott A. (2003). "Relationships of Lithogenes villosus Eigenmann, 1909 (Siluriformes, Loricariidae): Evidence from High-Resolution Computed Microtomography" (PDF). American Museum Novitates. 3401. American Museum of Natural History: 1–55. doi:10.1206/0003-0082(2003)401<0001:ROLVES>2.0.CO;2.
{{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter|doilabel=ignored (help) - ^ Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Lithogenes villosus". FishBase. May 2007 version.