Lepthoplosternum
| Lepthoplosternum | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Siluriformes |
| Family: | Callichthyidae |
| Subfamily: | Callichthyinae |
| Genus: | Lepthoplosternum R. Reis, 1997[1] |
| Type species | |
| Callichthys pectoralis | |
Lepthoplosternum is a genus of freshwater ray-finned fish belonging to the family Callichthyidae and the subfamily Callichthyinae, the armoured catfishes. The catfishes in this genus are found in South America.
Taxonomy
Lepthoplosternum was first proposed as genus by the Brazilian ichthyologist Roberto Esser dos Reis in 1997 with Callichthys pectoralis designated as its type species.[1] C. pectoralis was first formally described in 1895 by George Albert Boulenger with Monte Sociedad in the Chaco Department of Paraguay given as the type locality.[2] This genus is included in the subfamily Callichthyinae of the armoured catfish family, Callichthyidae,[2] which is in the suborder Loricarioidei of the catfish order Siluriformes.[3]
L. stellatum and L. ucamara are hypothesized to form a partially unresolved polytomy with L. pectorale and L. beni, which are sister-species to each other. L. tordilho is sister to these four species and L. altamazonicum is the most basal species.[4]
Etymology
Lepthoplosternum prefixes lepto, Greek for "fine" or "thin", although Reis said "small and delicate", onto the genus name Hoplosternum, an allusion to the smaller size of these catfishes compared to the species in Hoplosternum.[5]
Species
Lepthoplosternum contains the following valid species:[2]
- Lepthoplosternum altamazonicum R. Reis, 1997
- Lepthoplosternum beni R. Reis, 1997
- Lepthoplosternum pectorale (Boulenger, 1895)
- Lepthoplosternum stellatum R. Reis & Kaefer, 2005
- Lepthoplosternum tordilho R. Reis, 1997
- Lepthoplosternum ucamara R. Reis & Kaefer, 2005
Distribution and habitat
Lepthoplosternum is widely distributed in cis-Andean South America south of the Orinoco River basin.
Ecology
Lepthoplosternum species usually inhabit lentic or slow flowing water bodies and are often associated with marginal or floating vegetation.[4] L. ucamara has even been found in hypoxic conditions.[4] However, the type locality of L. stellatum is a stream, permanently flowing and well oxygenated.[4]
Description
Lepthoplosternum species are the smallest callichthyines (maximum standard length 60.3 mm) and are easily recognized by two synapomorphies: the lower lip with deep medial notch and a small, additional lateral notch forming fleshy projections on each side; and a single unbranched ray preceding the branched ones on the anal fin.[4]
References
- ^ a b c Fricke, Ron; Eschmeyer, William N. & van der Laan, Richard (eds.). "Genera in the family Callichthyinae". Catalog of Fishes. California Academy of Sciences. Retrieved 2 December 2025.
- ^ a b c Fricke, Ron; Eschmeyer, William N. & van der Laan, Richard (eds.). "Species in the genus Lepthoplosternum". Catalog of Fishes. California Academy of Sciences. Retrieved 2 December 2025.
- ^ Richard van der Laan; Ronald Fricke (eds.). "Eschmeyer's Catalog of Fishes Classification". Eschmeyer's Catalog of Fishes. California Academy of Sciences. Retrieved 2 December 2025.
- ^ a b c d e Reis, Roberto E.; Kaefer, Cíntia C. (2005). Armbruster, J. W. (ed.). "Two New Species of the Neotropical Catfish Genus Lepthoplosternum (Ostariophysi: Siluriformes: Callichthyidae)". Copeia. 2005 (4): 724–731. doi:10.1643/0045-8511(2005)005[0724:TNSOTN]2.0.CO;2. S2CID 85923637.
- ^ Christopher Scharpf (18 October 2025). "Family CALLICHTHYIDAE Bonaparte 1835 (Armored Catfishes)". The ETYFish Project Fish Name Etymology Database. Christopher Scharpf. Retrieved 2 December 2025.