| Stegophilinae | |
|---|---|
| Ochmacanthus reinhardtii | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Siluriformes |
| Family: | Trichomycteridae |
| Subfamily: | Stegophilinae Günther, 1864 |
| Type genus | |
| Stegophilus Reinhardt, 1859 |
|
| Genera[1] | |
|
Acanthopoma |
|
Stegophilinae is a subfamily of catfishes (order Siluriformes) of the family Trichomycteridae.
It includes twelve genera, Acanthopoma, Apomatoceros, Haemomaster, Henonemus, Homodiaetus, Megalocentor, Ochmacanthus, Parastegophilus, Pareiodon, Pseudostegophilus, Schultzichthys, and Stegophilus.[1] A monophyletic group within Stegophilinae is supported by two characteristics of the lateral line, including Acanthopoma, Henonemus, Megalocentor, Pareiodon, Parastegophilus, and Pseudostegophilus. Acanthopoma and Henonemus have a sister group relationship.[2]
The subfamily Stegophilinae is widely distributed in the main South American river basins, including the Amazon, Orinoco, São Francisco, Paraná-Paraguay and those of southern Brazil.[3] Eight of the genera are distributed in Venezuela.[2]
Stegophilines are sometimes considered candirú, and are considered parasites or semi-parasites, because of their peculiar habit of feeding on scales, mucus, or skin of other fishes.[2]