Lithogenes
| Lithogenes | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification Edit this classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Siluriformes |
| Family: | Loricariidae |
| Subfamily: | Lithogeninae |
| Genus: | Lithogenes Eigenmann, 1909 |
Lithogenes is a genus of South American catfish of the family Loricariidae. It is the only genus within the subfamily Lithogeninae.
Taxonomy
[edit | edit source]Lithogenes is the only genus within the subfamily Lithogeninae. This genus and subfamily, the most basal group in Loricariidae, is the sister group to the rest of the family.[1] Relative to an undescribed species of Lithogeninae, L. valencia has sister group relationship to L. villosus.[2]
Species
[edit | edit source]The three recognized species in this genus are:[3]
- Lithogenes valencia Provenzano, Schaefer, Baskin & Royero-Leon, 2003
- Lithogenes villosus Eigenmann, 1909
- Lithogenes wahari Schaefer & Provenzano, 2008
Appearance and anatomy
[edit | edit source]As members of the family Loricariidae, all Lithogenes species have a suckermouth. However, unlike most loricariids, species of the genus Lithogenes possess armor plating only on the latter half of the body. Their eyes are small and their bodies flattened.[2][1]
Distribution and habitat
[edit | edit source]L. villosus originates from the Essequibo River drainage of the Guiana Shield.[4] An undescribed species of Lithogenes is known from the Orinoco basin of the Guiana Shield.[2] L. valencia has only been known from six specimens collected in the 1970s from tributaries of the Lake Valencia in northern Venezuela; however, this area has since been polluted and this species possibly is now extinct.[2]
L. villosus lives in habitats dominated by rapids over bedrock, and L. valencia likely does, as well.[2][1]
References
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