Atopochilus

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Atopochilus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Siluriformes
Family: Mochokidae
Genus: Atopochilus
Sauvage, 1879
Type species
Atopochilus savorgnani
Sauvage, 1879
Binomial name

Atopochilus chabanaudi
Pellegrin, 1938
Atopochilus christyi
Boulenger, 1920
Atopochilus macrocephalus
Boulenger, 1906
Atopochilus mandevillei
Poll, 1959
Atopochilus pachychilus
Pellegrin, 1924
Atopochilus savorgnani
Sauvage, 1879
Atopochilus vogti
Pellegrin, 1922

Atopochilus is a genus of catfishes (order Siluriformes) of the family Mochokidae. It includes seven species, A. chabanaudi, A. christyi, A. macrocephalus, A. mandevillei, A. pachychilus, A. savorgnani, and A. vogti.[1]

A. christyi and A. macrocephalus are known from the Congo River. A. chabanaudi and A. mandevillei originate from the Congo River at Stanley Pool. A. pachychilus is known only from the type locality in the Kasai River of the Congo basin. A. savorgnani inhabits the Upper Ogowe River of the Muni River Basin in Equatorial Guinea, and the Ntem River in southern Cameroon. A. vogti is distributed in the Wami River of Tanzania.[1]

Atopochilus species have their lips and barbels modified into a suckermouth.[2] Atopochilus species range in size from 6.0–14.1 centimetres (2.4–5.6 in) in length.[3][4][5][6][7][8][9]

A. vogti inhabits small fast streams. It is of possible aquarium value.[9] A. vogti is listed as Data Deficient on the IUCN Red List.[10]

[edit] 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. 
  2. ^ Nelson, Joseph S. (2006). Fishes of the World. John Wiley & Sons, Inc. ISBN 0-471-25031-7. 
  3. ^ "Atopochilus chabanaudi". FishBase. Ed. Ranier Froese and Daniel Pauly. Aug 2007 version. N.p.: FishBase, 2007.
  4. ^ "Atopochilus christyi". FishBase. Ed. Ranier Froese and Daniel Pauly. Aug 2007 version. N.p.: FishBase, 2007.
  5. ^ "Atopochilus macrocephalus". FishBase. Ed. Ranier Froese and Daniel Pauly. Aug 2007 version. N.p.: FishBase, 2007.
  6. ^ "Atopochilus mandevillei". FishBase. Ed. Ranier Froese and Daniel Pauly. Aug 2007 version. N.p.: FishBase, 2007.
  7. ^ "Atopochilus pachychilus". FishBase. Ed. Ranier Froese and Daniel Pauly. Aug 2007 version. N.p.: FishBase, 2007.
  8. ^ "Atopochilus savorgnani". FishBase. Ed. Ranier Froese and Daniel Pauly. Aug 2007 version. N.p.: FishBase, 2007.
  9. ^ a b "Atopochilus vogti". FishBase. Ed. Ranier Froese and Daniel Pauly. Aug 2007 version. N.p.: FishBase, 2007.
  10. ^ Hanssens, M & Snoeks, J. (2005). Atopochilus vogti. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 03 August 2007.
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