Agamyxis

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Agamyxis
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Actinopterygii Order: Siluriformes Family: Doradidae Genus: Agamyxis Cope, 1878
Binomial name
Agamyxis albomaculatus (Peters, 1877)
Agamyxis pectinifrons (Cope, 1870)

Agamyxis is a genus of catfishes (order Siluriformes) of the family Doradidae. It contains two species, A. albomaculatus and A. pectinifrons.^[1] A. pectinifrons is a popular aquarium fish and is often sold as the spotted raphael catfish or spotted talking catfish.

Contents 1 Distribution 2 Description 3 Ecology 4 In the aquarium 5 See also 6 References

[edit] Distribution

A. albomaculatus is distribued in the Orinoco River basin in Venezuela while A. pectinifrons is found in the Amazon River basin.^[1]

[edit] Description

Both species reach about 15 centimetres (6 in) SL.^[2][3] These species both appear very similar; A. albomaculatus might be slimmer, have more spots and a different pattern on its caudal fin.^[4]

[edit] Ecology

These catfish are able to make sounds by grinding their pectoral fin bones against their shoulder bones.^[4] They can live for 17 years.^[4]

[edit] In the aquarium

A. pectinifrons is a popular aquarium fish and is often sold as the spotted raphael catfish or spotted talking catfish.^[5] It is recommended, due to the spines on this fish which would tear up a conventional net, that it is preferable to move these fish by hand. These fish need a dark refuge to hide in during the day.^[5][4]

[edit] See also

• List of freshwater aquarium fish species

[edit] References

1. ^ ^{a b} Ferraris, Carl J., Jr. (2007). "Checklist of catfishes, recent and fossil (Osteichthyes: Siluriformes), and catalogue of siluriform primary types" (PDF). Zootaxa 1418: 1–628. 
2. ^ "Agamyxis albomaculatus". FishBase. Ed. Ranier Froese and Daniel Pauly. June 2007 version. N.p.: FishBase, 2007.
3. ^ "Agamyxis pectinifrons". FishBase. Ed. Ranier Froese and Daniel Pauly. June 2007 version. N.p.: FishBase, 2007.
4. ^ ^{a b c d} Agamyxis pectinifrons (Cope, 1870) (2006-04-17). Retrieved on 2007-06-16.
5. ^ ^{a b} PlanetCatfish::Catfish of the Month::April 1997 (2006-05-06). Retrieved on 2007-06-16.