Aspredinidae
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 Bunocephalichthys verrucosus verrucosus
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Subfamily Aspredininae
Subfamily Bunocephalinae
Subfamily Hoplomyzontinae
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The Aspredinidae are a small family of fishes within the (order Siluriformes), also known as the banjo catfishes, is a from South America. Thirty-six species are currently recognised.[1]
Three subfamilies are recognised. Bunocephalinae comprises a number of small species that live in freshwater creeks usually hidden in leaf litter and decaying vegetation. Aspredininae contains a number of larger species that inhabit coastal rivers and brackish water habitats such as mangrove swamps.[2][3] The third subfamily is Hoplomyzontinae.[4]
Banjo catfishes lack an adipose fin. Their common name refers to their dorso-ventrally flattened bodies that in some species at least resembles a banjo. Their bodies are naked except for large tubercles. Most species lack the dorsal spine-locking mechanism. The maximum length is achieved in Aspredo aspredo at about 42 cm, though most are less than 15 cm. They are primarily nocturnal, and many spend the day buried in the substrate. Their diet consists of small invertebrates such as insect larvae. A few species, such as Agmus lyriformis, are traded as aquarium fish.[5]
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[edit] Reproduction
A peculiarity of the catfishes in the subfamily Aspredininae is that the after the female's eggs are fertilised by the male, she attaches them to her belly and carries to shallow water to hatch.[6]It has been hypothesised that because these catfish live in muddy environments, this behaviour gives the eggs better access to oxygenated water.[7]
[edit] Systematics
Aspredinids are grouped as they are in Nelson, 2006.[4]
- Subfamily Aspredininae: Typically relatively large (up to 42 cm), eel-like in shape, primarily in coastal brackish waters.[1]
- Aspredinichthys
- Aspredo
- Platystacus
- Pterobunocephalus
- Subfamily Bunocephalinae: Relatively small (typically below 15 cm), banjo-like in shape, strictly freshwater in distribution.[1]
- Acanthobunocephalus
- Amaralia
- Bunocephalus
- Subfamily Hoplomyzontinae
- Dupouyichthys
- Ernstichthys
- Hoplomyzon
- Micromyzon
- Xyliphius
[edit] Aquarium fish
A few banjo catfishes are kept as aquarium fish, predominantly the smaller members of the subfamily Aspredininae. Their requirements are similar to those of other tropical South American fish, preferring slightly acidic, not too hard water maintained at 20-25°C (68-77°F).[8] Since these species are nocturnal burrowers, they need an aquarium with a soft, sandy substrate into which they will hide during the daytime and forage in at night. Sharp sand or coarse gravel will damage their whiskers. Although not schooling fish they are tolerant of their own kind and also get along with other small aquarium species.[9]
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- "Aspredinidae". FishBase. Ed. Ranier Froese and Daniel Pauly. Mar 2007 version. N.p.: FishBase, 2007.
[edit] References
- ^ a b c
- ^ Sands D.: South American Catfishes, Interpet 1988, ISBN 0-86101-348-4
- ^ Monks N. (editor): Brackish Water Fishes, TFH 2006, ISBN 0-7938-0564-3
- ^ a b Nelson, Joseph S. (2006). Fishes of the World. John Wiley & Sons, Inc. ISBN 0471250317
- ^ Sands D.: South American Catfishes, Interpet 1988, ISBN 0-86101-348-4
- ^ Sands D.: South American Catfishes, Interpet 1988, ISBN 0-86101-348-4
- ^ Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors. Species Summary for Platystacus cotylephorus. FishBase. Retrieved on 2006-03-02.
- ^ Sands D.: South American Catfishes, Interpet 1988, ISBN 0-86101-348-4
- ^ Editore, Arnoldo. Freshwater and Marine Aquarium Fishes. Simon and Shuster 1976, ISBN 0-6712-2809-9
[edit] Further reading
- Editore, Arnoldo. Freshwater and Marine Aquarium Fishes. Simon and Shuster, New York, NY, 1976.
