Zaireichthys
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| Zaireichthys | ||||||||||||||
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| Zaireichthys zonatus Roberts, 1967 |
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Zaireichthys brevis |
Zaireichthys is a genus of catfishes (order Siluriformes) of the family Amphiliidae. It includes nine species, Z. brevis, Z. camerunensis, Z. dorae, Z. flavomaculatus, Z. heterurus, Z. mandevillei, Z. rotundiceps, Z. wamiensis, and Z. zonatus.[1]
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[edit] Distribution
Zaireichthys species are found in Africa. Z. brevis and Z. zonatus occur in the Congo River basin. Z. heterurus is distributed in the eastern Congo River basin. Z. camerunensis inhabits the upper Benue River in Cameroon and the upper Niger River in Guinea. Z. dorae originates from Luachimo of the Congo Basin in Angola. Z. flavomaculatus is known only from the type locality of Lulua River of the southern Congo.[1] Z. mandevillei ranges in the Stanley Pool of the Congo River at Ubangui and Lualaba.[1] It is confined to sandy reaches of the mainstream of the Congo River and its largest tributaries.[2] Z. rotundiceps occurs in the Cunene, Okavango, Zambezi, Pungwe, Buse, Save, Lake Malawi, and Lake Rukwa basins. Z. wamiensis lives in the Wami River basin in Tanzania.[1]
[edit] Description
Z. heterurus and Z. mandevillei have a broad, black collar just behind the head, while it is not present in Z. camerunensis, Z. rotundiceps.[3][4] Z. mandevillei has a spotted colour pattern.[2] The colouration of Z. rotundiceps is highly variable, from abundant dark spots in several rows to a light pale spotting pattern; marks are often present on the head and fins as well as the body.[5] In Z. zonatus, the body has vertical bands with darkened margins.[6]
The barbels are attenuate, with the maxillary barbels extending posteriorly to middle to end of the pectoral fin spine and the caudal peduncle is slender in Z. heterurus and Z. mandevillei.[3][2] The humeral process of the pectoral girdle is short and without denticulations in Z. camerunensis and Z. mandevillei, short and with a few fine denticulations at its tips in Z. zonatus, moderately long with poorly-developed or fine denticulations in Z. dorae, Z. flavomaculatus, and Z. rotundiceps, and long and stout without denticulations in Z. heterurus.[4][2][6][7][8][5][3] The neural and hemal spines tend to be simple and slender in Z. camerunensis and Z. dorae.[4][7] In Z. heterurus and Z. mandevillei the caudal fin is deeply forked, with the upper lobe much shorter and smaller than the lower lobe; also, the fin rays in lower lobe noticeable thicker than those in upper lobe.[3][2] However, in Z. rotundiceps the caudal fin shape is variable, from slightly forked through, emarginate, truncate, or even slightly rounded, but not deeply forked.[5] The dorsal and pectoral fins have strong and stout spines.[5][6] Zaireichthys species range between about 2.5–3.9 centimetres (1.0–1.5 in) in length.[6][8]
[edit] Ecology
Z. rotundiceps inhabits fairly shallow water.[5] Z. dorae and Z. rotundiceps occur over sand, usually buried with just the eyes protruding.[7][5] Z. zonatus are found only at the edges of a sandy areas, although their habitat is very rocky.[6] It feeds on minute organisms. Its eggs are few (12–16) and large (3–5 millimetres or .1–.2 in diameter), suggesting possible parental care.[5]
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d 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 "Zaireichthys mandivillei". FishBase. Ed. Ranier Froese and Daniel Pauly. Aug 2007 version. N.p.: FishBase, 2007.
- ^ a b c d "Zaireichthys heterurus". FishBase. Ed. Ranier Froese and Daniel Pauly. Aug 2007 version. N.p.: FishBase, 2007.
- ^ a b c "Zaireichthys camerunensis". FishBase. Ed. Ranier Froese and Daniel Pauly. Aug 2007 version. N.p.: FishBase, 2007.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Zaireichthys rotundiceps". FishBase. Ed. Ranier Froese and Daniel Pauly. Aug 2007 version. N.p.: FishBase, 2007.
- ^ a b c d e "Zaireichthys zonatus". FishBase. Ed. Ranier Froese and Daniel Pauly. Aug 2007 version. N.p.: FishBase, 2007.
- ^ a b c "Zaireichthys dorae". FishBase. Ed. Ranier Froese and Daniel Pauly. Aug 2007 version. N.p.: FishBase, 2007.
- ^ a b "Zaireichthys flavomaculatus". FishBase. Ed. Ranier Froese and Daniel Pauly. Aug 2007 version. N.p.: FishBase, 2007.
