Pogonopoma
Encyclopedia
Pogonopoma is a genus
of South America
n catfish
(order
Siluriformes) of the family
Loricariidae
. It includes three species
, P. obscurum, P. parahybae, and P. wertheimeri.
currently valid in the tribe
Rhinelepini
. Pogonopomoides, previously a valid genus, was placed in synonymy
with Pogonopoma. This genus and Rhinelepis
have a sister group
relationship.
Pogonopoma contains three species
: P. wertheimeri (type species
), P. parahybae (previously Pogonopomoides), and P. obscurum (described in 2002).
, São Mateus River
, and Doce River
. This species is usually found in stretches of river with mid to strong water current and bottom formed by rocks or sand. However, they are also found in the Juparanã lagoon
, close to the mouth of the Doce river, which is a lentic habitat.
P. parahybae is endemic to the Paraíba do Sul
river basin, where it occurs in areas of mid to strong water current usually associated with rocky substrate.
P obscurum is endemic to the upper reaches of the Uruguay River
, in the states of Rio Grande do Sul
and Santa Catarina
, southern Brazil
. This species is fairly common and inhabits stretches of the main river and its tributaries, with relatively rapid water currents over bottoms usually formed by rocks and boulders.
and an at least slightly flattened ventral
surface. However, unlike many loricariids, they have circular pupils, which differs from most members of the family that have an omega iris. Pogonopoma species are heavily armored except on their abdomen (the belly in the case of loricariids), which is relatively unplated.
P. wertheimeri reaches a length of about 22 centimetres (8.7 in) SL
. It is a cylindrically shaped loricariid. The cheek is covered in long, thin, non-evertible odontode
s that form a dense patch.
P. parahybae reaches a length of about 26 cm (10 in) SL. This fish appears to be more of an intermediate between P. wertheimeri and Rhinelepis
. It is fairly flattened, and also has longer pectoral and pelvic fins compared to other species of the tribe Rhinelepini. The gill openings are not as large as those in Rhinelepis. Also, this species lacks long cheek odontodes and the adipose fin.
P. obscurum reaches a length of about 25 cm SL (10 in) SL. Unlike P. wertheimeri, it simultaneously lacks an adipose fin and cheek odontodes. Its dorsal fin
base is also longer than of other members of this genus.
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...
of 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...
n 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) of the family
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...
. It includes three species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
, P. obscurum, P. parahybae, and P. wertheimeri.
Taxonomy
Pogonopoma is one of three generaGenus
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...
currently valid in the 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...
Rhinelepini
Rhinelepini
Rhinelepini is a tribe of armored suckermouth catfish family within the Hypostominae subfamily.-Taxonomy:This tribe is a well diagnosed monophyletic group currently containing three genera: Pogonopoma, Pseudorinelepis, and Rhinelepis. When the tribe was first described, Pogonopomoides was a valid...
. Pogonopomoides, previously a valid genus, was placed in synonymy
Synonym (taxonomy)
In scientific nomenclature, a synonym is a scientific name that is or was used for a taxon of organisms that also goes by a different scientific name. For example, Linnaeus was the first to give a scientific name to the Norway spruce, which he called Pinus abies...
with Pogonopoma. This genus and Rhinelepis
Rhinelepis
Rhinelepis is a genus of South American catfish of the family Loricariidae. It contains two species, R. aspera and R. strigosa. It is one of three genera in the tribe Rhinelepini.-Distribution:...
have a sister group
Cladistics
Cladistics is a method of classifying species of organisms into groups called clades, which consist of an ancestor organism and all its descendants . For example, birds, dinosaurs, crocodiles, and all descendants of their most recent common ancestor form a clade...
relationship.
Pogonopoma contains three species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
: P. wertheimeri (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...
), P. parahybae (previously Pogonopomoides), and P. obscurum (described in 2002).
Distribution and habitat
P. wertheimeri originates from the Mucuri RiverMucuri River
-References:*...
, São Mateus River
São Mateus River
-References:*...
, and Doce River
Doce River
The Doce River is a river in southeast Brazil, which has an extension of 853 km.It is formed by the junction of the Piranga and the Carmo near the historical city of Ouro Preto, whose sources are located in the foothills of the Mantiqueira and Espinhaço mountain chains at altitudes of about 1,200...
. This species is usually found in stretches of river with mid to strong water current and bottom formed by rocks or sand. However, they are also found in the Juparanã lagoon
Linhares
Linhares is the name of a municipality in the state of Espírito Santo, Brazil, 135 km north of the state capital, Vitória. It is the largest municipality by area in the state, at 9,501.6 km², and has a population of 130,901 people ....
, close to the mouth of the Doce river, which is a lentic habitat.
P. parahybae is endemic to the Paraíba do Sul
Paraíba do Sul
thumbThe Paraíba do Sul , or simply termed Paraíba, is a river in the south-east of Brazil. It flows 1,137 kilometres west to northeast from its farthest source at the source of the river Paraitinga to the sea near Campos...
river basin, where it occurs in areas of mid to strong water current usually associated with rocky substrate.
P obscurum is endemic to the upper reaches of the Uruguay River
Uruguay River
The Uruguay River is a river in South America. It flows from north to south and makes boundary with Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay, separating some of the Argentine provinces of the Mesopotamia from the other two countries...
, in the states of Rio Grande do Sul
Rio Grande do Sul
Rio Grande do Sul is the southernmost state in Brazil, and the state with the fifth highest Human Development Index in the country. In this state is located the southernmost city in the country, Chuí, on the border with Uruguay. In the region of Bento Gonçalves and Caxias do Sul, the largest wine...
and Santa Catarina
Santa Catarina (state)
Santa Catarina is a state in southern Brazil with one of the highest standards of living in Latin America. Its capital is Florianópolis, which mostly lies on the Santa Catarina Island. Neighbouring states are Rio Grande do Sul to the south and Paraná to the north. It is bounded on the east by...
, southern Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
. This species is fairly common and inhabits stretches of the main river and its tributaries, with relatively rapid water currents over bottoms usually formed by rocks and boulders.
Appearance and anatomy
As loricariids, Pogonopoma species all exhibit a suckermouthSuckermouth
In fishes, a suckermouth is a ventrally-oriented mouth adapted for grazing on algae and small organisms that grow on submerged objects....
and an at least slightly flattened ventral
Anatomical terms of location
Standard anatomical terms of location are designations employed in science that deal with the anatomy of animals to avoid ambiguities that might otherwise arise. They are not language-specific, and thus require no translation...
surface. However, unlike many loricariids, they have circular pupils, which differs from most members of the family that have an omega iris. Pogonopoma species are heavily armored except on their abdomen (the belly in the case of loricariids), which is relatively unplated.
P. wertheimeri reaches a length of about 22 centimetres (8.7 in) SL
Fish measurement
Fish measurement refers to the measuring of the length of individual fish and of various parts of their anatomy. These data are used in many areas of ichthyology, including taxonomy and fisheries biology.-Overall length:...
. It is a cylindrically shaped loricariid. The cheek is covered in long, thin, non-evertible odontode
Odontode
Odontodes, or dermal teeth, are hard structures found on the external surfaces of animals or near internal openings. They comprise a soft pulp surrounded by dentine and covered by a mineralized substance such as enamel, a structure similar to that of teeth. They generally do not have the same...
s that form a dense patch.
P. parahybae reaches a length of about 26 cm (10 in) SL. This fish appears to be more of an intermediate between P. wertheimeri and Rhinelepis
Rhinelepis
Rhinelepis is a genus of South American catfish of the family Loricariidae. It contains two species, R. aspera and R. strigosa. It is one of three genera in the tribe Rhinelepini.-Distribution:...
. It is fairly flattened, and also has longer pectoral and pelvic fins compared to other species of the tribe Rhinelepini. The gill openings are not as large as those in Rhinelepis. Also, this species lacks long cheek odontodes and the adipose fin.
P. obscurum reaches a length of about 25 cm SL (10 in) SL. Unlike P. wertheimeri, it simultaneously lacks an adipose fin and cheek odontodes. Its dorsal fin
Dorsal fin
A dorsal fin is a fin located on the backs of various unrelated marine and freshwater vertebrates, including most fishes, marine mammals , and the ichthyosaurs...
base is also longer than of other members of this genus.