Heptapteridae
| Heptapteridae | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Siluriformes |
| Superfamily: | Pimelodoidea |
| Family: | Heptapteridae T. N. Gill, 1861[1] |
| Genera | |
|
Acentronichthys | |
The Heptapteridae are a family of catfish that originate from Mexico to South America.[2] Heptapteridae is derived from Greek, hepta meaning seven and pteron meaning fin.[3]
The diversity of this family is poorly known, and many species are yet to be described.[2] So far, some 190 species have been described. This family is equivalent to the previously recognized Rhamdiinae, a subfamily of the family Pimelodidae.[2] However, molecular evidence shows this family is a part of the superfamily Pimelodoidea along with Pimelodidae, Pseudopimelodidae, and Conorhynchos.[4]
The skin of these fish is usually naked (scaleless). They exhibit three pairs of barbels. They have a large adipose fin, and their caudal fin is deeply forked. However, no external characteristics unique to this family allow it to be differentiated from Pimelodidae.[2]
The Heptapteridae include a few troglobitic species in the genera Pimelodella, Rhamdia, and Taunayia, as well as in an undescribed genus.[5]
References
- ↑ "Heptapteridae". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 7 April 2007.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Nelson, Joseph, S. (2006). Fishes of the World. John Wiley & Sons, Inc. ISBN 0-471-25031-7.
- ↑ Froese, Rainer, and Daniel Pauly, eds. (2007). "Heptapteridae" in FishBase. Apr 2007 version.
- ↑ Sullivan, JP; Lundberg JG; Hardman M (2006). "A phylogenetic analysis of the major groups of catfishes (Teleostei: Siluriformes) using rag1 and rag2 nuclear gene sequences". Mol Phylogenet Evol. 41 (3): 636–62. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2006.05.044. PMID 16876440.
- ↑ Bichuette, Maria Elina; Trajano, Eleonora (2005). "A new cave species of Rhamdia (Siluriformes: Heptapteridae) from Serra do Ramalho, northeastern Brazil, with notes on ecology and behavior". Neotropical Ichthyology 3 (4): 587–595. doi:10.1590/S1679-62252005000400016.