Leptodoras
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Leptodoras | ||||||||||||
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Scientific classification | ||||||||||||
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Type species | ||||||||||||
Oxydoras acipenserinus Günther, 1868 |
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Species | ||||||||||||
L. acipenserinus |
Leptodoras is a genus of catfishes (order Siluriformes) of the family Doradidae. It includes ten species.
Contents |
[edit] Taxonomy
Leptodoras is a monophyletic genus that includes ten species.[1] There has been taxonomic confusion due to similarities of some species with each other and members of other genera. Misunderstood distributions and indentities of some species added to this confusion. Most species were described from small geographic areas without information on their potential distributions. Also, specimens have been rare in museums until recently.[1] An assessment in 2005 diagnosed Leptodoras and its seven species while describing three new species.[1]
[edit] Distribution
Leptodoras species are distributed in large, predominantly lowland rivers throughout the northern half of cis-Andean South America.[1] Species are distributed throughout lowlands in the Orinoco, Amazon, and Tocantins basins and several coastal river systems that enter the Atlantic between the mouths of the Orinoco and Amazon. Leptodoras is not known from trans-Andean drainages or Atlantic-slope drainages south of the Tocantins.[1]
[edit] Physical description
Leptodoras is easily recognized by its long conical snout and well-developed oral hood formed by the membranous union of maxillary barbels, paired jaw barbels on the chin, and lip structures.[1]
[edit] Ecology
Most species of Leptodoras are truly benthic and typically inhabit the deep swift-flowing waters of large rivers. Many species of Leptodoras migrate at dusk into shallow waters near shore to forage over beaches and shoals of sand or silt. Other species, such as L. juruensis and L. myersi, appear more restricted to deep channel habitats. Leptodoras species are not known from elevations exceeding 500 metres (1600 ft) above sea level and most records are from below 200 m (660 ft).[1]
The oral hood found in Leptodoras species presumably facilitates the detection and suction-feeding of shallowly buried invertebrates. Stomach contents typically include chironomid larvae, sand, and detritus.[1]