Heptapteridae is a family of catfish

Catfish

Catfishes are a diverse group of ray-finned fish. Named for their prominent barbels, which resemble a cat's whiskers, catfish range in size and behavior from the heaviest and longest, the Mekong giant catfish from Southeast Asia and the second longest, the wels catfish of Eurasia, to detritivores...

 that originate from Mexico

Mexico

The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...

 to South America

South America

South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...

. Heptapteridae is derived from Greek

Greek language

Greek is an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages. Native to the southern Balkans, it has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. Its writing system has been the Greek alphabet for the majority of its history;...

, hepta meaning seven and pteron meaning fin.

The diversity of this family is poorly known and there are many species yet to be described. So far some 190 species have been described. This family is equivalent to the previously recognized Rhamdiinae, a subfamily of the family Pimelodidae

Pimelodidae

Pimelodidae, commonly known as the long-whiskered catfishes, is a family of catfishes .-Taxonomy:Pimelodidae has undergone much revision. Currently, the family contains about 30 genera and about 90 recognized and known but unnamed species...

. However, molecular evidence shows that this family is a part of the superfamily Pimelodoidea along with Pimelodidae, Pseudopimelodidae

Pseudopimelodidae

Pseudopimelodidae is a small family of catfishes. Some of these fish are popular aquarium fish.-Taxonomy:This family was formerly a subfamily of Pimelodidae. Pseudopimelodidae is a monophyletic group. Previously, the superfamily Pseudopimelodoidea is sister to superfamilies Sisoroidea + Loricarioidea...

, and Conorhynchos.

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, there are no external characteristics that are unique to this family that allow it to be differentiated from Pimelodidae.

Heptapteridae includes a few troglobitic

Troglobite

Troglobites are small cave-dwelling animals that have adapted to their dark surroundings. Troglobite species include spiders, insects, fish and others. They live permanently underground and cannot survive outside the cave environment. Troglobite adaptations and characteristics include a heightened...

 species in the genera Pimelodella

Pimelodella

Pimelodella is a genus of catfishes of the family Heptapteridae.Pimelodella is the largest genus in the family. However, it is in need of taxonomic revision....

, Rhamdia

Rhamdia

Rhamdia is a genus of catfishes of the family Heptapteridae.The monophyly of Rhamdia is not yet established.Rhamdia catfishes are nocturnal, opportunistic carnivores. This genus includes a number of troglobitic members, encompassing a number of taxa, including R. quelen urichi, R. laticauda...

, and Taunayia, as well as in an undescribed genus.

Species

There are 189 species in 24 genera:

• Genus Acentronichthys Eigenmann & Eigenmann, 1889.
  • Acentronichthys leptos
    Acentronichthys leptos
    Acentronichthys leptos is the only species of catfish in the genus Acentronichthys of the family Heptapteridae. This species originates from coastal streams in Brazil from Rio de Janeiro to Santa Catarina State, and in São Mateus, Espírito Santo State. This species grows up to about...
    
    Eigenmann & Eigenmann, 1889.
• Genus Brachyglanis
  Brachyglanis
  Brachyglanis is a genus of catfishes of the family Heptapteridae.It includes the following species:*Brachyglanis frenatus Eigenmann, 1912*Brachyglanis magoi Fernández-Yépez, 1967*Brachyglanis melas Eigenmann, 1912...
  
  Eigenmann, 1912.
  • Brachyglanis frenatus Eigenmann, 1912.
  • Brachyglanis magoi Fernández-Yépez, 1967.
  • Brachyglanis melas Eigenmann, 1912.
  • Brachyglanis microphthalmus Bizerril, 1991.
  • Brachyglanis nocturnus Myers, 1928.
  • Brachyglanis phalacra Eigenmann, 1912.
• Genus Brachyrhamdia
  Brachyrhamdia
  Brachyrhamdia is a genus of catfishes of the family Heptapteridae.It includes the following species:*Brachyrhamdia heteropleura *Brachyrhamdia imitator Myers, 1927...
  
  Myers, 1927.
  • Brachyrhamdia heteropleura (Eigenmann, 1912).
  • Brachyrhamdia imitator Myers, 1927.
  • Brachyrhamdia marthae Sands & Black, 1985.
  • Brachyrhamdia meesi Sands & Black, 1985.
  • Brachyrhamdia rambarrani (Axelrod & Burgess, 1987).
• Genus Cetopsorhamdia
  Cetopsorhamdia
  Cetopsorhamdia is a genus of catfishes of the family Heptapteridae. It includes the following species:*Cetopsorhamdia boquillae Eigenmann & Fisher, 1922*Cetopsorhamdia filamentosa Fowler, 1945...
  
  Eigenmann & Fisher, 1916.
  • Cetopsorhamdia boquillae Eigenmann & Fisher, 1922.
  • Cetopsorhamdia filamentosa Fowler, 1945.
  • Cetopsorhamdia iheringi Schubart & Gomes, 1959.
  • Cetopsorhamdia insidiosa (Steindachner, 1915).
  • Cetopsorhamdia molinae Miles, 1943.
  • Cetopsorhamdia nasus Eigenmann & Fisher, 1916.
  • Cetopsorhamdia orinoco Schultz, 1944.
  • Cetopsorhamdia phantasia Stewart, 1985.
  • Cetopsorhamdia picklei Schultz, 1944.
• Genus Chasmocranus
  Chasmocranus
  Chasmocranus is a genus of catfishes of the family Heptapteridae. It includes the following species:*C. brachynemus Gomes & Schubart, 1958*C. brevior Eigenmann, 1912*C. chimantanus Inger, 1956...
  
  Eigenmann, 1912.
  • Chasmocranus brachynemus Gomes & Schubart, 1958.
  • Chasmocranus brevior Eigenmann, 1912.
  • Chasmocranus chimantanus Inger, 1956.
  • Chasmocranus longior Eigenmann, 1912.
  • Chasmocranus lopezi Miranda Ribeiro, 1968.
  • Chasmocranus peruanus Eigenmann & Pearson, 1942.
  • Chasmocranus quadrizonatus Pearson, 1937.
  • Chasmocranus rosae Eigenmann, 1919.
  • Chasmocranus surinamensis (Bleeker, 1862).
  • Chasmocranus truncatorostris Borodin, 1927.
• Genus Gladioglanis Ferraris & Mago-Leccia, 1989.
  • Gladioglanis conquistador Lundberg, Bornbusch & Mago-Leccia, 1991.
  • Gladioglanis machadoi Ferraris & Mago-Leccia, 1989.
• Genus Goeldiella Eigenmann & Norris, 1900.
  • Goeldiella eques
    Goeldiella eques
    Goeldiella eques is a species of catfish of the family Heptapteridae. It is the only species of the genus Goeldiella. This species occurs in the Guyana and Amazon River basins....
    
    (Müller & Troschel, 1848).
• Genus Heptapterus
  Heptapterus
  Heptapterus is a genus of catfishes of the family Heptapteridae.It includes the following species:*Heptapterus bleekeri Boeseman, 1953.*Heptapterus fissipinnis Miranda Ribeiro, 1911....
  
  Bleeker, 1858.
  • Heptapterus bleekeri Boeseman, 1953.
  • Heptapterus fissipinnis Miranda Ribeiro, 1911.
  • Heptapterus multiradiatus Ihering, 1907.
  • Heptapterus mustelinus (Valenciennes, 1835).
  • Heptapterus stewarti Haseman, 1911.
  • Heptapterus sympterygium Buckup, 1988.
  • Heptapterus tapanahoniensis Mees, 1967.
  • Heptapterus tenuis Mees, 1986.
• Genus Horiomyzon Stewart, 1986.
  • Horiomyzon retropinnatus
    Horiomyzon retropinnatus
    Horiomyzon retropinnatus is a species of catfish of the family Heptapteridae. It is the only species of the genus Horiomyzon. This species occurs in the Amazon and Napo Rivers....
    
    Stewart, 1986.
• Genus Imparfinis Eigenmann & Norris, 1900.
  • Imparfinis borodini Mees & Cala, 1989.
  • Imparfinis cochabambae (Fowler, 1940).
  • Imparfinis guttatus (Pearson, 1924).
  • Imparfinis hasemani Steindachner, 1915.
  • Imparfinis hollandi Haseman, 1911.
  • Imparfinis lineatus (Bussing, 1970).
  • Imparfinis longicauda (Boulenger, 1887).
  • Imparfinis microps Eigenmann & Fisher, 1916.
  • Imparfinis minutus (Lütken, 1874).
  • Imparfinis mirini Haseman, 1911.
  • Imparfinis mishky Almiron, Casciotta, Bechara et al. 2007.
  • Imparfinis nemacheir (Eigenmann & Fisher, 1916).
  • Imparfinis pijpersi (Hoedeman, 1961).
  • Imparfinis piperatus Eigenmann & Norris, 1900.
  • Imparfinis pristos Mees & Cala, 1989.
  • Imparfinis pseudonemacheir Mees & Cala, 1989.
  • Imparfinis schubarti (Gomes, 1956).
  • Imparfinis spurrellii (Regan, 1913).
  • Imparfinis stictonotus (Fowler, 1940).
• Genus Leptorhamdia Eigenmann, 1918.
  • Leptorhamdia essequibensis (Eigenmann, 1912).
  • Leptorhamdia marmorata Myers, 1928.
  • Leptorhamdia schultzi (Miranda Ribeiro, 1964).
• Genus Mastiglanis Bockmann, 1994.
  • Mastiglanis asopos
    Mastiglanis asopos
    Mastiglanis asopos is the only species of catfish in the genus Mastiglanis of the family Heptapteridae.This species has a broad distribution, mainly throughout the left side tributaries of the Amazon basin and the Capim River basin in Brazil, as well as in the right tributaries of the Amazon basin...
    
    Bockmann, 1994.
• Genus Myoglanis Eigenmann, 1912.
  • Myoglanis aspredinoides Do Nascimiento & Lundberg, 2005.
  • Myoglanis koepckei Chang, 1999.
  • Myoglanis potaroensis Eigenmann, 1912.
• Genus Nannoglanis Boulenger, 1887.
  • Nannoglanis fasciatus
    Nannoglanis fasciatus
    Nannoglanis fasciatus is the only species of catfish in the genus Nannoglanis of the family Heptapteridae. It originates from the Napo River basin in Ecuador....
    
    Boulenger, 1887.
• Genus Nemuroglanis Eigenmann & Eigenmann, 1889.
  • Nemuroglanis furcatus Ribeiro, Pedroza & Py-Daniel, 2011
  • Nemuroglanis lanceolatus Eigenmann & Eigenmann, 1889.
  • Nemuroglanis mariai (Schultz, 1944).
  • Nemuroglanis pauciradiatus Ferraris, 1988.
• Genus Pariolius Cope, 1872.
  • Pariolius armillatus
    Pariolius armillatus
    Pariolius armillatus is the only species of catfish in the genus Pariolius of the family Heptapteridae. It originates from the Upper Amazon River basin of Brazil and Peru. This species inhabits sand and gravel bottoms of creeks of relatively fast flowing water as well as sluggish waters of the...
    
    Cope, 1872.
• Genus Phenacorhamdia Dahl, 1961.
  • Phenacorhamdia anisura (Mees, 1987).
  • Phenacorhamdia boliviana (Pearson, 1924).
  • Phenacorhamdia hoehnei (Miranda Ribeiro, 1914).
  • Phenacorhamdia macarenensis Dahl, 1961.
  • Phenacorhamdia nigrolineata Zarske, 1998.
  • Phenacorhamdia somnians (Mees, 1974).
  • Phenacorhamdia tenebrosa (Schubart, 1964).
  • Phenacorhamdia unifasciata Britski, 1993.
• Genus Pimelodella
  Pimelodella
  Pimelodella is a genus of catfishes of the family Heptapteridae.Pimelodella is the largest genus in the family. However, it is in need of taxonomic revision....
  
  Eigenmann & Eigenmann, 1888.
  • Pimelodella altipinnis (Steindachner, 1864).
  • Pimelodella australis Eigenmann, 1917.
  • Pimelodella avanhandavae Eigenmann, 1917.
  • Pimelodella boliviana Eigenmann, 1917.
  • Pimelodella boschmai Van der Stigchel, 1964.
  • Pimelodella brasiliensis (Steindachner, 1877).
  • Pimelodella breviceps (Kner, 1857).
  • Pimelodella buckleyi (Boulenger, 1887).
  • Pimelodella chagresi (Steindachner, 1876).
  • Pimelodella chaparae Fowler, 1940.
  • Pimelodella conquetaensis Ahl, 1925.
  • Pimelodella cristata (Müller & Troschel, 1848).
  • Pimelodella cruxenti Fernández-Yépez, 1950.
  • Pimelodella cyanostigma (Cope, 1870).
  • Pimelodella dorseyi Fowler, 1941.
  • Pimelodella eigenmanni (Boulenger, 1891).
  • Pimelodella eigenmanniorum (Miranda Ribeiro, 1911).
  • Pimelodella elongata (Günther, 1860).
  • Pimelodella enochi Fowler, 1941.
  • Pimelodella eutaenia Regan, 1913.
  • Pimelodella figueroai Dahl, 1961.
  • Pimelodella geryi Hoedeman, 1961.
  • Pimelodella gracilis (Valenciennes, 1835).
  • Pimelodella griffini Eigenmann, 1917.
  • Pimelodella grisea (Regan, 1903).
  • Pimelodella hartii (Steindachner, 1877).
  • Pimelodella hartwelli Fowler, 1940.
  • Pimelodella hasemani Eigenmann, 1917.
  • Pimelodella howesi Fowler, 1940.
  • Pimelodella itapicuruensis Eigenmann, 1917.
  • Pimelodella kronei
    Pimelodella kronei
    Pimelodella kronei is a species of fish in the Pimelodidae family. It is endemic to Brazil.-Source:* World Conservation Monitoring Centre 1996. . Downloaded on 4 August 2007....
    
    (Miranda Ribeiro, 1907).
  • Pimelodella lateristriga (Lichtenstein, 1823).
  • Pimelodella laticeps Eigenmann, 1917.
  • Pimelodella laurenti Fowler, 1941.
  • Pimelodella linami Schultz, 1944.
  • Pimelodella macrocephala (Miles, 1943).
  • Pimelodella macturki Eigenmann, 1912.
  • Pimelodella martinezi Fernández-Yépez, 1970.
  • Pimelodella meeki Eigenmann, 1910.
  • Pimelodella megalops Eigenmann, 1912.
  • Pimelodella megalura Miranda Ribeiro, 1918.
  • Pimelodella metae Eigenmann, 1917.
  • Pimelodella modesta (Günther, 1860).
  • Pimelodella montana Allen, 1942.
  • Pimelodella mucosa Eigenmann & Ward, 1907.
  • Pimelodella nigrofasciata (Perugia, 1897).
  • Pimelodella notomelas Eigenmann, 1917.
  • Pimelodella odynea Schultz, 1944.
  • Pimelodella ophthalmica (Cope, 1878).
  • Pimelodella pallida Dahl, 1961.
  • Pimelodella pappenheimi Ahl, 1925.
  • Pimelodella parnahybae Fowler, 1941.
  • Pimelodella parva Güntert, 1942.
  • Pimelodella pectinifer Eigenmann & Eigenmann, 1888.
  • Pimelodella peruana Eigenmann & Myers, 1942.
  • Pimelodella peruensis Fowler, 1915.
  • Pimelodella procera Mees, 1983.
  • Pimelodella reyesi Dahl, 1964.
  • Pimelodella roccae Eigenmann, 1917.
  • Pimelodella rudolphi Miranda Ribeiro, 1918.
  • Pimelodella serrata Eigenmann, 1917.
  • Pimelodella spelaea Trajano, Reis & Bichuette, 2004.
  • Pimelodella steindachneri Eigenmann, 1917.
  • Pimelodella taeniophora (Regan, 1903).
  • Pimelodella taenioptera Miranda Ribeiro, 1914.
  • Pimelodella tapatapae Eigenmann, 1920.
  • Pimelodella transitoria Miranda Ribeiro, 1907.
  • Pimelodella vittata (Lütken, 1874).
  • Pimelodella wesselii (Steindachner, 1877).
  • Pimelodella witmeri Fowler, 1941.
  • Pimelodella yuncensis .
• Genus Rhamdella Eigenmann & Eigenmann, 1888.
  • Rhamdella aymarae Miquelarena & Menni, 1999.
  • Rhamdella cainguae Bockmann and Miquelarena, 2008.
  • Rhamdella eriarcha (Eigenmann & Eigenmann, 1888).
  • Rhamdella exsudans (Jenyns, 1842).
  • Rhamdella gilli (Starks, 1906).
  • Rhamdella ignobilis Steindachner, 1907.
  • Rhamdella jenynsii (Günther, 1864).
  • Rhamdella leptosoma Fowler, 1914.
  • Rhamdella longipinnis Borodin, 1927.
  • Rhamdella longiuscula Lucena & da Silva, 1991.
  • Rhamdella montana Eigenmann, 1913.
  • Rhamdella papariae Fowler, 1941.
  • Rhamdella robinsoni Fowler, 1941.
  • Rhamdella rusbyi Pearson, 1924.
  • Rhamdella wolfi Fowler, 1941.
• Genus Rhamdia
  Rhamdia
  Rhamdia is a genus of catfishes of the family Heptapteridae.The monophyly of Rhamdia is not yet established.Rhamdia catfishes are nocturnal, opportunistic carnivores. This genus includes a number of troglobitic members, encompassing a number of taxa, including R. quelen urichi, R. laticauda...
  
  Bleeker, 1858.
  • Rhamdia enfurnada Bichuette & Trajano, 2005.
  • Rhamdia foina (Müller & Troschel, 1848).
  • Rhamdia guasarensis Do Nascimiento, Provenzano & Lundberg, 2004.
  • Rhamdia humilis (Günther, 1864).
  • Rhamdia itacaiunas Silfvergrip, 1996.
  • Rhamdia jequitinhonha Silfvergrip, 1996.
  • Rhamdia laluchensis Weber, Allegrucci & Sbordoni, 2003.
  • Rhamdia laticauda (Kner, 1857).
  • Rhamdia laukidi Bleeker, 1858.
  • Rhamdia macuspanensis Weber & Wilkens, 1998.
  • Rhamdia muelleri (Günther, 1864).
  • Rhamdia nicaraguensis (Günther, 1864).
  • Rhamdia parryi Eigenmann & Eigenmann, 1888.
  • Rhamdia poeyi Eigenmann & Eigenmann, 1888.
  • Rhamdia quelen (Quoy & Gaimard, 1824).
  • Rhamdia reddelli Miller, 1984.
  • Rhamdia xetequepeque Silfvergrip, 1996.
• Genus Rhamdioglanis Ihering, 1907.
  • Rhamdioglanis frenatus Ihering, 1907.
  • Rhamdioglanis transfasciatus Miranda Ribeiro, 1908.
• Genus Rhamdiopsis Haseman, 1911.
  • Rhamdiopsis microcephala (Reinhardt, 1874).
  • Rhamdiopsis moreirai Haseman, 1911.
• Genus Taunayia Miranda Ribeiro, 1918.
  • Taunayia bifasciata
    Taunayia bifasciata
    Taunayia bifasciata is the only species of catfish in the genus Taunayia of the family Heptapteridae. Another undescribed species of this genus is known. T. bifasciata originates from the Upper Paraíba do Sul and Tietê River basins of Brazil. This fish is known to grow to about...
    
    (Eigenmann & Norris, 1900).