Pseudohemiodon
Encyclopedia
Pseudohemiodon is a genus
of catfish
es (order
Siluriformes) of the family
Loricariidae
. It includes seven species
, P. amazonus, P. apithanos, P. devincenzii, P. laminus, P. laticeps, P. platycephalus and P. thorectes.
, Orinoco
, and Paraná River
basins. P. amazonus occurs in the lower Amazon River
basin in Brazil
. P. apithanos originates from the San Miquel River basin of the western Amazon River drainage in Ecuador
. P. devincenzii is distributed in the Uruguay River
basin in Uruguay
. P. laminus inhabits the upper Amazon River basin of Peru
. P. platycephalus is known from the Paraguay River
basin, Brazil. P. laticeps is from the Uruguay, Paraná
, and Paraguay River basins. P. thorectes lives in the Mamoré River basin of Bolivia.
is unknown. P. amazonus grows to 9.2 centimetres (3.6 in) SL
. P. apithanos grows to 14.5 cm (5.7 in) SL. P. devincenzii grows to 14.3 cm (5.6 in) SL. P. laminus grows to 15.9 cm (6.3 in) SL. P. laticeps grows to 29.8 cm (11.7 in) SL. P. platycephalus grows to 18.0 cm (7.1 in) SL. P. thorectes grows to 11.7 cm (4.6 in) SL.
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 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...
es (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 seven 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. amazonus, P. apithanos, P. devincenzii, P. laminus, P. laticeps, P. platycephalus and P. thorectes.
Distribution
Pseudohemiodon is distributed in the AmazonAmazon River
The Amazon of South America is the second longest river in the world and by far the largest by waterflow with an average discharge greater than the next seven largest rivers combined...
, Orinoco
Orinoco
The Orinoco is one of the longest rivers in South America at . Its drainage basin, sometimes called the Orinoquia, covers , with 76.3% of it in Venezuela and the remainder in Colombia...
, and Paraná River
Paraná River
The Paraná River is a river in south Central South America, running through Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina for some . It is second in length only to the Amazon River among South American rivers. The name Paraná is an abbreviation of the phrase "para rehe onáva", which comes from the Tupi language...
basins. P. amazonus occurs in the lower Amazon River
Amazon River
The Amazon of South America is the second longest river in the world and by far the largest by waterflow with an average discharge greater than the next seven largest rivers combined...
basin in 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...
. P. apithanos originates from the San Miquel River basin of the western Amazon River drainage in Ecuador
Ecuador
Ecuador , officially the Republic of Ecuador is a representative democratic republic in South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and by the Pacific Ocean to the west. It is one of only two countries in South America, along with Chile, that do not have a border...
. P. devincenzii is distributed in 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...
basin in Uruguay
Uruguay
Uruguay ,officially the Oriental Republic of Uruguay,sometimes the Eastern Republic of Uruguay; ) is a country in the southeastern part of South America. It is home to some 3.5 million people, of whom 1.8 million live in the capital Montevideo and its metropolitan area...
. P. laminus inhabits the upper Amazon River basin of Peru
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
. P. platycephalus is known from the Paraguay River
Paraguay River
The Paraguay River is a major river in south central South America, running through Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay, and Argentina...
basin, Brazil. P. laticeps is from the Uruguay, Paraná
Paraná River
The Paraná River is a river in south Central South America, running through Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina for some . It is second in length only to the Amazon River among South American rivers. The name Paraná is an abbreviation of the phrase "para rehe onáva", which comes from the Tupi language...
, and Paraguay River basins. P. thorectes lives in the Mamoré River basin of Bolivia.
Description
The body of Pseudohemiodon species is very flat and the pelvic fins are used mainly for locomotion on sand. Sexual dimorphismSexual dimorphism
Sexual dimorphism is a phenotypic difference between males and females of the same species. Examples of such differences include differences in morphology, ornamentation, and behavior.-Examples:-Ornamentation / coloration:...
is unknown. P. amazonus grows to 9.2 centimetres (3.6 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:...
. P. apithanos grows to 14.5 cm (5.7 in) SL. P. devincenzii grows to 14.3 cm (5.6 in) SL. P. laminus grows to 15.9 cm (6.3 in) SL. P. laticeps grows to 29.8 cm (11.7 in) SL. P. platycephalus grows to 18.0 cm (7.1 in) SL. P. thorectes grows to 11.7 cm (4.6 in) SL.