Doradidae
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Acanthodoras |
Doradidae is a family of catfishes also known as thorny catfishes or talking catfishes. These fish are native to South America, primarily in Brazil, Peru, and the Guianas.
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[edit] Taxonomy
As of 2007, there are 31 genera and 78 species in this family.[1] Wertheimeria is considered to be the sister taxon to all other doradids.[3] This family is monophyletic and contains the subfamilies Platydoradinae, Doradinae, and Astrodoradinae, though their relationships are mostly unresolved.[4] Astrodoradinae contains the genera Amblydoras, Anadoras, Astrodoras, Hypodoras, Merodoras, Physopyxis, and Scorpiodoras.
[edit] Distribution
Doradids occur in most South American basins, though they are absent from the Pacific coast drainages and from coastal drainages south of the La Plata River.[3] 70% of the valid species occur in the Amazon basin; the Orinoco basin harbors about 22 species and ranks second in species richness.[3] On the other hand, only two species of doradids have been described from Brazilian eastern coastal basins: Wertheimeria maculata from the Jequitinhonha and Pardo rivers and Kalyptodoras bahiensis from the Paraguaçu River.[3]
[edit] Appearance and anatomy
Doradids are easily recognized by a well-developed nuchal shield that precedes the dorsal fin as well as well-developed ossifications with the lateral line that form thorny scutes.[1] Also, doradids typically have three pairs of barbels (no nasal barbels), an adipose fin, and 4–6 rays on the dorsal fin with a spine on the anterior (first) ray.[5] These fish are sometimes called "talking catfish" because of their ability to produce sound by moving their pectoral spine or vibrating their swim bladder.[5] Sizes range from 3.5 centimetres (1.4 in) SL in Physopyxis lyra to 120 cm (47 in) FL and 20 kilograms (44 lb) in Oxydoras niger.[3]
[edit] References
- ^ a b c Higuchi, Horácio; Birindelli, José L. O.; Sousa, Leandro M.; Britski, Heraldo A. (2007). "Merodoras nheco, new genus and species from Rio Paraguay basin, Brazil (Siluriformes, Doradidae), and nomination of the new subfamily Astrodoradinae" (PDF). Zootaxa 1446: 31–42.
- ^ Ferraris, Carl J., Jr. (2007). "Checklist of catfishes, recent and fossil (Osteichthyes: Siluriformes), and catalogue of siluriform primary types" (PDF). Zootaxa 1418: 1–628.
- ^ a b c d e Eler, Eduardo S.; Dergam, Jorge A.; Vênere, Paulo C.; Paiva, Lílian C.; Miranda, Gabriela A.; Oliveira, Alessandro A. (2007). "The karyotypes of the thorny catfishes Wertheimeria maculata Steindachner, 1877 and Hassar wilderi Kindle, 1895 (Siluriformes: Doradidae) and their relevance in doradids chromosomal evolution" (PDF). Genetica 130: 99–103. doi:.
- ^ Moyer, Gregory R.; Burr, Brooks M.; Krajewski, Carey. "Phylogenetic relationships of thorny catfishes (Siluriformes: Doradidae) inferred from molecular and morphological data". Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 140 (4): 551–575. doi:.
- ^ a b Nelson, Joseph S. (2006). Fishes of the World. John Wiley & Sons, Inc. ISBN 0-471-25031-7.
[edit] External links
- The Family Doradidae or "Talking Catfishes" Article on Scotcat.com by Chris Ralph
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