Bunocephalus

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Bunocephalus
Bunocephalus verrucosus
Bunocephalus verrucosus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Siluriformes
Family: Aspredinidae
Subfamily: Bunocephalinae
Genus: Bunocephalus
Kner, 1855
Type species
Platystacus verrucosus
Bloch, 1794
Species

See text.
Synonyms

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.

Contents

[edit] Taxonomy

Bunocephalus currently contains 14 species, according to Ferraris, 2007.[1] However, in this scheme, Bunocephalus is a paraphyletic group.[2]

  • Bunocephalus aleuropsis Cope, 1870
  • Bunocephalus amaurus Eigenmann, 1912
  • Bunocephalus amazonicus (Mees, 1989)
  • Bunocephalus bifidus Eigenmann, 1942
  • Bunocephalus chamaizelus Eigenmann, 1912
  • Bunocephalus colombianus Eigenmann, 1912
  • Bunocephalus coracoideus (Cope, 1874)
  • Bunocephalus doriae Boulenger, 1902
  • Bunocephalus iheringii Boulenger, 1891
  • Bunocephalus knerii Steindachner, 1882
  • Bunocephalus larai Ihering, 1930
  • Bunocephalus quadriradiatus (Mees, 1989)
  • Bunocephalus rugosus Eigenmann & Kennedy, 1903
  • Bunocephalus verrucosus (Walbaum, 1792)

However, Friel, 1994 presents an alternative classification with the informal description of the genus Pseudobunocephalus and its type species P. lundbergi. Both have yet to become scientifically valid names.[2] The members of Friel's Bunocephalus do not share any derived character states, thus lacking any evidence for monophyly. Pseudobunocephalus, on the other hand, could be diagnosed from other aspredinid genera by a number of derived character states. The removal of Pseudobunocephalus from Bunocephalus was an attempt to make it monophyletic.[2] Even in this reduced state, Bunocephalus is still the largest genus in the Aspredinidae.[2] Several undescribed species remain.[2]

  • B. aleuropsis Cope, 1870
  • B. amaurus Eigenmann, 1912
  • B. chamaizelus Eigenmann, 1912
  • B. colombianus Eigenmann, 1912
  • B. coracoideus (Cope, 1874)
  • B. doriae Boulenger, 1902
  • B. knerii Steindachner, 1882
  • B. larai von Ihering, 1930
  • B. verrucosus (Bloch, 1794)
  • P. amazonicus (Mees, 1989)
  • P. bifidus (Eigenmann, 1942)
  • P. iheringii (Boulenger, 1891)
  • P. quadriradiatus (Mees, 1989)
  • P. rugosus (Eigenmann & Kennedy, 1903)
  • P. lundbergi undescribed species

[edit] 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.[2] The species of the undescribed genus Pseudobunocephalus are also widespread in the Amazon, Orinoco, and Paraguay-Paraná River basins.[2]

[edit] 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.[2] Bunocephalus species may reach up to 12 centimetres (5 in) SL.[2] Species of Friel's Pseudobunocephalus only grow up to 8 cm (3 in) SL and are often mistaken at first glance with juvenile Bunocephalus species.[2]

[edit] In the aquarium

B. coracoideus is the most common species of banjo catfish that one might find in the aquarium fishkeeping hobby.[3][4] These fish are nocturnal.[5] This species is peaceful and a good idea for a community aquarium.[4] These fish may be kept with sand to allow them to bury themselves or with a flat rock to hide underneath.[4] 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.[5] Spawning is induced by a larger water change; the pair will spawn within two days.[5] Spawning occurs at night.[4] 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.[5][4]

[edit] External links

[edit] References

  1. ^ 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. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Friel, John Patrick (1994-12-13). "A Phylogenetic Study of the Neotropical Banjo Catfishes (Teleostei: Siluriformes: Aspredinidae)" (PDF). . Duke University, Durham, NC Retrieved on 2007-08-07.
  3. ^ Friel, John P. (14 April 2000). Bunocephalus Kner 1855. Tree of Life Web Project. Retrieved on 2007-08-08.
  4. ^ a b c d e PlanetCatfish::Catfish of the Month::June 1997. PlanetCatfish.com (2006-06-24). Retrieved on 2007-08-08.
  5. ^ a b c d Axelrod, Herbert R.; Emmens, C.; Burgess, W.;Pronek, N. (1996). Exotic Tropical Fishes. T.F.H. Publications. ISBN 0-87666-543-1. 
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