Catfishes of the genus Auchenipterichthys (Osteichthyes: Siluriformes: Auchenipteridae): a revisionary study

Abstract

The Neotropical auchenipterid catfish genus Auchenipterichthys is reviewed and found to include four species. Auchenipterichthys thoracatus, formerly considered to be widely distributed throughout the Amazon River basin, is found to be restricted to the upper Madeira River basin. The widespread Amazonian species that had been misidentified as A. thoracatus is, instead, A. coracoideus; a species that also occurs in the upper Essequibo River. Auchenipterichthys longimanus, the most widely distributed species of the genus, is found through much of the Amazon and Orinoco River basins. The fourth species of the genus, A. punctatus (and its junior synonym A. dantei), is found in the upper portions of the Orinoco and Negro River basins in Venezuela and the central portions of the Amazon River basin in Brazil. All four species of Auchenipterichthys are redescribed and illustrated, and a key to the species is provided. O gênero Neotropical Auchenipterichthys de Auchenipteridae é revisado, incluindo quatro espécies. Auchenipterichthys thoracatus, anteriormente considerado como largamente distribuído na bacia do rio Amazonas, é restringido para a região superior da bacia do rio Madeira. A espécie amazônica largamente distribuída e que tem sido identificada erroneamente como A. thoracatus é, ao invés disto, A. coracoideus; uma espécie que ocorre igualmente na região superior do rio Essequibo. Auchenipterichthys longimanus, a espécie de maior distribuição no gênero, é encontrada nas bacias dos rios Amazonas e Orinoco. A quarta espécie do gênero, A. punctatus (e seu sinônimo júnior A. dantei), é encontrada nas porções superiores dos rios Orinoco e Negro na Venezuela e porção central do rio Amazonas no Brasil. Todas as quatro espécies de Auchenipterichthys são redescritas e ilustradas, e fornecida uma chave para a identificação das especies.

Phylogenetic relationships of the South American Doradoidea (Ostariophysi: Siluriformes)

“…The same condition is present in the doradids Astrodoras, Ossancora, Physopyxis, and Trachydoras paraguayensis (Eigenmann, 1925: 287;Higuchi, 1992: #106, A75;Sousa, 2010: #71), and auchenipterids Auchenipterichthys coracoideus and A. thoracatus (Ferraris et al, 2005). In the auchenipterids Auchenipterus, Epapterus, and Pseudepapterus the posterior coracoid process is also elongate (extending distinctly beyond base of rays), laminar and not visually exposed (Figs.…”

“…From 1998 to 2000, Vari & Ferraris (1998) revised Epapterus, recognizing two valid species; Ferraris & Vari (1999) revised Auchenipterus, describing two new species; Soares-Porto et al (1999) described Gelanoglanis nanonocticolus; Soares-Porto (2000) described Centromochlus macracanthus; and Ferraris & Vari (2000) described Pseudepapterus gracilis as a new species from the Caura River in Venezuela. Later on, Akama & Ferraris (2003) described Entomocorus malaphareus as a new species from the Amazon; Sarmento-Soares & Buckup (2005) described Glanidium bockmanni; and Ferraris et al (2005) revised Auchenipterichthys, currently with three valid species. In 2006, Reis & Borges (2006) revised Entomocorus, describing one new species from the Pantanal; and Vari & Ferraris (2006) described Tetranematichthys wallacei.…”

“…In mature males of the auchenipterids Auchenipterichthys and Trachelyopterichthys, the serrations on the distal portion of the posterior face of the dorsal-fin spine are hypertrophied, stronger than those of females (Ferraris & Fernandez, 1987;Ferraris et al, 2005;Akama, 2004: #163). This feature was not present in the examined specimens of Liosomadoras, although mentioned by Akama (2004: #163).…”

“…However, all species of Mochokidae (Vigliotta, 2008: #65), and most species of Auchenipteridae and Doradidae have six. The exceptions include the doradids Acanthodoras, Agamyxis, Franciscodoras, Kalyptodoras, and Wertheimeria (Sousa, 2010: #80), and auchenipterids Entomocorus (Akama & Ferraris, 2004), Trachelyopterus (Akama, 2004), and most species of Centromochlinae (Mees, 1974) with five; auchenipterid Pseudauchenipterus with seven (Akama, 1999); and auchenipterids Asterophysus, Auchenipterichthys (Ferraris et al, 2005), Auchenipterus (Vari & Ferraris, 1998), Epapterus (Ferraris & Vari, 2000), Pseudepapterus (Ferraris & Vari, 1999), Trachelyopterichthys (Ferraris & Fernandez, 1987), Trachelyichthys and Trachycorystes, with eight or more branched pelvic-fin rays (Ferraris, 1988: #PV3;Royero, 1999: #92;Akama, 2004: #122). In addition, the Ictaluridae has seven branched pelvic-fin rays, and Pangasiidae and Siluridae have eight or more.…”

A new species of the catfish genus Centromochlus (Siluriformes: Auchenipteridae: Centromochlinae) from the upper rio Paraná basin, Brazil

“…Tatia was defined by Sarmento-Soares & Martins-Pinheiro (2008) as having hyomandibula elongated anterodorsally, not contacting the narrow metapterygoid, anal-fin base of adult males reduced and caudal peduncle compressed and deep, somewhat keeled posterior to adipose fin. Glanidium is diagnosed by having sphenotic and pterotic excavated, resulting in strongly concave lateral margin of neurocranium (Ferraris, 1988;Soares-Porto, 1998); presence of anterior nuchal plate, and anal-fin radials not completely fused in mature males. Gelanoglanis is a miniature and derived taxon of Centromochlinae with several autapomorphies (see Introduction).…”