Loricariinae
Encyclopedia
Loricariinae is a subfamily of the family
Loricariidae
of catfish
(order
Siluriformes). This subfamily is divided into two tribe
s and about 30 genera
.
and genera of Farlowellini was reclassified into Hartiini. This subfamily has been found to be monophyletic
. The most recent papers conclude that there are 30 or 31 genera; the status of Cteniloricaria is dubious; although recognized as a synonym of Harttia
by some, this conclusion was reached without diagnosing the type species
of Cteniloricaria.
s, and modification of the mouth into a suckermouth
. Members of the subfamily Loricariinae show a greater diversity of lip structures and shapes than other loricariids. Loricariines are characterized by a long and depressed caudal peduncle (rectangular cross-section) and by the absence of an adipose fin. They also show dramatic variation in body shape, lip morphology and dentition. The sexual dimorphism is often pronounced and is expressed through the hypertrophy of odontodes on the pectoral fin rays, on the snout margin, and sometimes on the predorsal
area of mature males. Certain genera also show sexual differences in lip and tooth structures.
The Harttiini are characterized by numerous and pedunculated teeth, a caudal fin with more branched rays, the absence of postorbital notches and predorsal keels, a rounded mouth, papillose
lips weakly or not fringed, and short maxillary barbels. The Loricariini are characterized by a more important variation in lips and teeth shape, the frequent presence of postorbital notches and predorsal keels, longer maxillary barbels, and less numerous teeth and branched rays in the caudal fin.
Family (biology)
In biological classification, family is* a taxonomic rank. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, genus, and species, with family fitting between order and genus. As for the other well-known ranks, there is the option of an immediately lower rank, indicated by the...
Loricariidae
Loricariidae
Loricariidae is the largest family of catfish , with almost 700 species and new species being described each year. Loricariids originate from fresh water habitats of Costa Rica, Panama, and tropical and subtropical South America. These fish are noted for the bony plates covering their bodies and...
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...
(order
Order (biology)
In scientific classification used in biology, the order is# a taxonomic rank used in the classification of organisms. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, family, genus, and species, with order fitting in between class and family...
Siluriformes). This subfamily is divided into two tribe
Tribe (biology)
In biology, a tribe is a taxonomic rank between family and genus. It is sometimes subdivided into subtribes.Some examples include the tribes: Canini, Acalypheae, Hominini, Bombini, and Antidesmeae.-See also:* Biological classification* Rank...
s and about 30 genera
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
.
Taxonomy
Loricariinae was first described in 1831. Later, in 1979, many genera were described and Loricariinae was divided into four subfamilies: Loricariini, Harttiini, Farlowellini, and Acestridiini. Eventually, the genera of Acestridiini was included under HypoptopomatinaeHypoptopomatinae
Hypoptopomatinae is a subfamily of catfishes of the family Loricariidae.Hypoptopomatinae is a monophyletic assemblage within the family Loricariidae. It is composed by 17 genera and approximately 80 species. This subfamily represents about one-tenth of all loricariid species.It is divided into two...
and genera of Farlowellini was reclassified into Hartiini. This subfamily has been found to be monophyletic
Monophyly
In common cladistic usage, a monophyletic group is a taxon which forms a clade, meaning that it contains all the descendants of the possibly hypothetical closest common ancestor of the members of the group. The term is synonymous with the uncommon term holophyly...
. The most recent papers conclude that there are 30 or 31 genera; the status of Cteniloricaria is dubious; although recognized as a synonym of Harttia
Harttia
Harttia is a genus of catfishes of the family Loricariidae.-Taxonomy:As of 1997, Harttia was considered a monophyletic taxon. However, Harttia is in need of revision...
by some, this conclusion was reached without diagnosing the type species
Type species
In biological nomenclature, a type species is both a concept and a practical system which is used in the classification and nomenclature of animals and plants. The value of a "type species" lies in the fact that it makes clear what is meant by a particular genus name. A type species is the species...
of Cteniloricaria.
Appearance and anatomy
As loricariids, loricariinae species are characterized by a depressed body covered by bony plates, a unique pair of maxillary barbelBarbel (anatomy)
A barbel on a fish is a slender, whiskerlike tactile organ near the mouth. Fish that have barbels include the catfish, the carp, the goatfish, sturgeon, the zebrafish and some species of shark...
s, and modification of the mouth into a suckermouth
Suckermouth
In fishes, a suckermouth is a ventrally-oriented mouth adapted for grazing on algae and small organisms that grow on submerged objects....
. Members of the subfamily Loricariinae show a greater diversity of lip structures and shapes than other loricariids. Loricariines are characterized by a long and depressed caudal peduncle (rectangular cross-section) and by the absence of an adipose fin. They also show dramatic variation in body shape, lip morphology and dentition. The sexual dimorphism is often pronounced and is expressed through the hypertrophy of odontodes on the pectoral fin rays, on the snout margin, and sometimes on the predorsal
Dorsum (biology)
In anatomy, the dorsum is the upper side of animals that typically run, fly, or swim in a horizontal position, and the back side of animals that walk upright. In vertebrates the dorsum contains the backbone. The term dorsal refers to anatomical structures that are either situated toward or grow...
area of mature males. Certain genera also show sexual differences in lip and tooth structures.
The Harttiini are characterized by numerous and pedunculated teeth, a caudal fin with more branched rays, the absence of postorbital notches and predorsal keels, a rounded mouth, papillose
Papilla (fish mouth structure)
The papilla, in certain kinds of fish, particularly rays, sharks, and catfish, are small lumps of dermal tissue found in the mouth, where they are "distributed uniformly on the tongue, palate, and pharynx"...
lips weakly or not fringed, and short maxillary barbels. The Loricariini are characterized by a more important variation in lips and teeth shape, the frequent presence of postorbital notches and predorsal keels, longer maxillary barbels, and less numerous teeth and branched rays in the caudal fin.
Genera
Genera list based on Covain and Fisch-Muller (2007), except for Cteniloricaria.- Tribe Loricariini
- Loricaria group
- BrochiloricariaBrochiloricariaBrochiloricaria is a small genus of catfish of the family Loricariidae. It includes two species, B. chauliodon and B. macrodon.-Distribution:...
- LoricariaLoricariaLoricaria is a genus of catfishes of the family Loricariidae.-Taxonomy:Loricaria was the first genus of the family Loricariidae described. Thus, it is the nominal genus of the family Loricariidae. Phylogenetic relationships within Loricaria and among other members of Loricariini remain uncertain...
- ParaloricariaParaloricariaParaloricaria is a genus of catfishes of the family Loricariidae. It includes three species, P. agastor, P. commersonoides, and P. vetula....
- RicolaRicola macropsRicola macrops is the only species of the monotypic genus Ricola, a genus of the family Loricariidae of catfish ....
- Brochiloricaria
- Loricariichthys group
- Furcodontichthys
- Hemiodontichthys
- Limatulichthys
- LoricariichthysLoricariichthysLoricariichthys is a genus of catfishes of the family Loricariidae.-Taxonomy:This genus is part of the Loricariichthys group within the subfamily Loricariinae; this group also includes the genera Furcodontichthys, Hemiodontichthys, Limatulichthys, and Pseudoloricaria...
- Pseudoloricaria
- Pseudohemiodon group
- ApistoloricariaApistoloricariaApistoloricaria is a genus of freshwater fish in the Loricariidae family of order Siluriformes. It includes four species, A. condei, A. laani, A. istrorhinos, and A. ommation.-Taxonomy:The type species is Apistoloricaria condei...
- CrossoloricariaCrossoloricariaCrossoloricaria is a genus of catfish of the family Loricariidae. It includes five species, C. bahuaja, C. cephalaspis, C. rhami, C. variegata, and C. venezuelae.-Taxonomy:...
- Dentectus
- Planiloricaria
- Pyxiloricaria
- Rhadinoloricaria
- PseudohemiodonPseudohemiodonPseudohemiodon is a genus of catfishes of the family Loricariidae. It includes seven species, P. amazonus, P. apithanos, P. devincenzii, P. laminus, P. laticeps, P. platycephalus and P. thorectes....
- Reganella
- Apistoloricaria
- Rineloricaria group
- DasyloricariaDasyloricariaDasyloricaria is a genus of catfishes of the family Loricariidae. It includes five species, D. capatensis, D. filamentosa, D. latiura, D. seminuda, and D. tuyrensis.-Distribution:...
- IxinandriaIxinandriaIxinandria steinbachi is the only species in the genus Ixinandria of catfish of the family Loricariidae.-Taxonomy:...
- RineloricariaRineloricariaRineloricaria is a genus of freshwater tropical catfish belonging to the Loricariidae family. They are commonly called whiptail catfish because of the long filament that grows out of the tip of the caudal fin that is characteristic of the genus...
- SpatuloricariaSpatuloricariaSpatuloricaria is a genus of catfishes of the family Loricariidae. It includes eleven currently recognized species....
- Dasyloricaria
- Loricaria group
- Tribe Harttiini
- Aposturisoma
- CteniloricariaCteniloricariaCteniloricaria is a genus of catfishes of the family Loricariidae. It includes three species, C. fowleri, C. maculata, and C...
- FarlowellaFarlowellaFarlowella is a genus of catfish of the family Loricariidae. These fish resemble twigs or sticks, hence the common names twig catfish or stick catfish. They may also sometimes be referred to as whiptail catfish...
- HarttiaHarttiaHarttia is a genus of catfishes of the family Loricariidae.-Taxonomy:As of 1997, Harttia was considered a monophyletic taxon. However, Harttia is in need of revision...
- Harttiella
- LamontichthysLamontichthysLamontichthys is a genus of catfishes of the family Loricariidae. It includes four species, L. filamentosus, L. llanero, L. maracaibero, and L. stibaros.-Taxonomy:...
- MetaloricariaMetaloricariaMetaloricaria is a genus of catfishes of the family Loricariidae. It includes two species, M. nijsseni and M. paucidens.-Taxonomy:The phylogenetic position of Metaloricaria remains uncertain...
- Pterosturisoma
- SturisomaSturisomaSturisoma is a genus of catfishes of the family Loricariidae.-Distribution:The species of the genus Sturisoma are widely distributed on both slopes of the Andes, in Panama and Colombia, and in the Amazon, Orinoco, and Paraná River basins.-Description:Sexual dimorphism includes hypertrophied...
- SturisomatichthysSturisomatichthysSturisomatichthys is a genus of catfish of the family Loricariidae. It includes four species, S. caquetae, S. citurensis, S. leightoni, and S. tamanae.-Distribution and habitat:...