Lithogenes

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Lithogenes
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Chordata
Class:
Actinopterygii
Order:
Siluriformes
Family:
Loricariidae
Subfamily:
Lithogeneinae

, 1947
Genus:
Lithogenes

Eigenmann, 1909

Lithogenes is a genus of South American catfish (order Siluriformes) of the family Loricariidae. It is the only genus within the subfamily Lithogeneinae.

Taxonomy[]

Lithogenes is the only genus within the subfamily Lithogeneinae. 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 Lithogeneinae, L. valencia has sister group relationship to L. villosus.[2]

Species[]

The three recognized species in this genus are:[3]

Appearance and anatomy[]

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[]

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[]

  1. ^ a b c Schaefer, Scott A. (2003). "Relationships of Lithogenes villosus Eigenmann, 1909 (Siluriformes, Loricariidae): Evidence from High-Resolution Computed Microtomography" (PDF). American Museum Novitates. American Museum of Natural History. 3401: 1–55. doi:10.1206/0003-0082(2003)401<0001:ROLVES>2.0.CO;2. ISSN 0003-0082.
  2. ^ a b c d e Provenzano R., Francisco; Schaefer, Scott A.; Baskin, Jonathan N.; Royero-Leon, Ramiro (2003). Buth, D. G. (ed.). "New, Possibly Extinct Lithogenine Loricariid (Siluriformes, Loricariidae) from Northern Venezuela" (PDF). Copeia. American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists. 2003 (3): 562–575. doi:10.1643/CI-02-160R1.
  3. ^ Froese, Rainer and Pauly, Daniel, eds. (2011). Species of Lithogenes in FishBase. December 2011 version.
  4. ^ Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2007). "Lithogenes villosus" in FishBase. May 2007 version.
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