Lithogenes

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Lithogenes
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Siluriformes
Family: Loricariidae
Subfamily: Lithogeneinae
Gosline, 1947
Genus: Lithogenes
Eigenmann, 1909
Species[1]

L. valencia
L. villosus

Lithogenes is a genus of catfish (order Siluriformes) of the family Loricariidae. It is the only genus within the subfamily Lithogeneinae. This genus contains two species: L. villosus, the type species, and L. valencia, a possibly extinct species.

Contents

[edit] Taxonomy

L. villosus was described in 1909 by Carl H. Eigenmann. L. valencia was described in 2003 by Provenzano et al, known by only six specimens.[2]

Lithogenes is the only genus within the subfamily Lithogeneinae. This genus and subfamily, the most basal group in Loricariidae, is the sister group to the rest of the family.[3] Relative to an undescribed species of Lithogeneinae, L. valencia has sister group relationship to L. villosus.[2]

[edit] Appearance and anatomy

As members of Loricariidae, Lithogenes species have a suckermouth. However, unlike most loricariids, Lithogenes possesses armor plating only on the latter half of the body. Their eyes are small and their bodies flattened.[3][2]

[edit] Distribution and habitat

L. villosus originates from the Essequibo River drainage of the Guiana Shield.[4] An undescribed species of Lithogenes is known from the Orinoco basin of the Guiana Shield.[2] L. valencia has only been known from six specimens collected in the 1970s from tributaries of the Lake Valencia in north Venezuela; however, this area has since been polluted and it is possible this species is now extinct.[2]

L. villosus lives in habitats dominated by rapids over bedrock, and it is likely that L. valencia does as well.[3][2]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Lithogenes (TSN 639232). Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved on May 05, 2007.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Provenzano R., Francisco; Schaefer, Scott A.; Baskin, Jonathan N.; Royero-Leon, Ramiro (2003). "New, Possibly Extinct Lithogenine Loricariid (Siluriformes, Loricariidae) from Northern Venezuela" (PDF). Copeia 2003 (3): 562–575. American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists. doi:10.1643/CI-02-160R1. 
  3. ^ a b c Schaefer, Scott A. (2003). "Relationships of Lithogenes villosus Eigenmann, 1909 (Siluriformes, Loricariidae): Evidence from High-Resolution Computed Microtomography" (PDF). American Museum Novitates 3401: 1–55. American Museum of Natural History. doi:10.1206/0003-0082(2003)401<0001:ROLVES>2.0.CO;2. 
  4. ^ "Lithogenes villosus". FishBase. Ed. Ranier Froese and Daniel Pauly. May 2007 version. N.p.: FishBase, 2007.