Leiarius

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Leiarius
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Siluriformes
Family: Pimelodidae
Genus: Leiarius
Bleeker, 1862
Binomial name
Leiarius marmoratus
(Gill, 1870)
Leiarius pictus
(Müller & Troschel, 1849)
Synonyms

Sciadeoides
Eigenmann & Eigenmann, 1888

Leiarius is a genus of catfishes (order Siluriformes) of the family Pimelodidae. It includes two species, L. marmoratus and L. pictus. Both species are ornamental species kept as pets in the aquarium hobby.

Contents

[edit] Taxonomy

Leiarius contains two species, L. marmoratus and L. pictus.[1] L. arekaima and L. longibarbis are considered species of Leiarius by some sources.[2][3] However, other sources consider these species inquirendae of the genus.[1]

[edit] Distribution

L. marmoratus is found in the Amazon, Essequibo, and Orinoco River basins.[4] On the other hand, L. pictus is only found in the Amazon and Orinoco River basins.[5]

[edit] Physical description

L. marmoratus can reach a little more than 100 centimetres (39 in) TL and has a maximum published weight of about 12 kilograms (26 lb).[4] L. pictus grows to 60 cm (24 in) TL.[5]

These two species can be easily confused. The body of L. pictus is brown with darker brown spots, with a paler ventral coloring. In juvenile L. pictus, two parallel, pale bands curve from the dorsal fin down the body towards the caudal fin.[6] In young fish of both species, the maxillary barbels are very long and ringed with black and white.[7] As both of these species grow, their barbels will shorten in proportion to their size, and the caudal fin lobes, which are rounded in the young, become much more pointed.[6][7] As L. marmoratus grows older, it darkens and its dark spots develop into a marbled pattern.[7] Both species have a large, sail-like dorsal fin.[6][7]

There are no external sexual differences.[6]

[edit] Ecology

L. marmoratus inhabits riverbeds, deep wells, and lakes. Young or sub-adults form large schools. This species prefers to lay over rock and tree trunks during the day, being more active at sunrise, sunset, and night.[4]

[edit] In the aquarium

Both L. marmoratus and L. pictus are ornamental fish kept as pets in the aquarium hobby.[8] They have a voracious appetite and can grow rapidly, and therefore should be kept in a a very large aquarium. These fish are peaceful towards other large fish.[7] Some sort of retreat to allow these fish to hide during the day is required.[6][7] These fish get very large and are not recommended for the average aquarist.[6]

[edit] See also

[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. ^ "Leiarius arekaima". FishBase. Ed. Ranier Froese and Daniel Pauly. June 2007 version. N.p.: FishBase, 2007.
  3. ^ "Leiarius longibarbis". FishBase. Ed. Ranier Froese and Daniel Pauly. June 2007 version. N.p.: FishBase, 2007.
  4. ^ a b c "Leiarius marmoratus". FishBase. Ed. Ranier Froese and Daniel Pauly. June 2007 version. N.p.: FishBase, 2007.
  5. ^ a b "Leiarius pictus". FishBase. Ed. Ranier Froese and Daniel Pauly. June 2007 version. N.p.: FishBase, 2007.
  6. ^ a b c d e f PlanetCatfish::Catfish of the Month::April 2003. PlanetCatfish.com (2007-01-24). Retrieved on 2007-06-22.
  7. ^ a b c d e f Axelrod, Herbert R.; Emmens, C.; Burgess, W.;Pronek, N. (1996). Exotic Tropical Fishes. T.F.H. Publications. ISBN 0-87666-543-1. 
  8. ^ Fenner, Robert. Shovelnoses, Pictus, Tigers and More, The Antennae Catfishes, Family Pimelodidae. Retrieved on 2007-06-22.