Astroblepus

Astroblepus
Astroblepus sabalo
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Siluriformes
Family: Astroblepidae
Bleeker, 1862
Genus: Astroblepus
Humboldt, 1805
Type species
Astroblepus grixalvii
Humboldt, 1805

Astroblepus is a genus of fish in the family Astroblepidae found in South America and Panama. This genus is the only member of its family.[1] These catfishes are primarily found in torrential streams in the Andean area.[1] Astroblepus pholeter and A. riberae are troglobites adapted to living in subterranean water systems.[2] These species are typically small, less than 10 cm (0.33 ft).[1] The largest species reaches 30 cm (0.98 ft).[1] These fish have suckermouths like those of loricariids. They have two pairs of barbels, maxillary and nasal. The dorsal fin spine lacks a locking mechanism.[3] These fish also have odontodes, tiny teeth on their skin. All species exhibit a conical, pointy type on their fin rays like that found in other loricarioids; other species also exhibit a blunt type that is only found on their skin.[3]

Some of these fish are able to live in high altitude and climb the faces of waterfalls.[3] Their climbing ability comes from specially developed pelvic fins, as well as their suckermouths.[3] In their neotropical Andean habitat, dry and wet seasons are quite extreme, and odontodes may help in sensing food, mates and water flow, as well as help cling to surfaces.[3] They feed upon invertebrates, such as caterpillars and annelids.[3]

Species

There are currently 80 recognized species in this genus:

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Froese, Rainer, and Daniel Pauly, eds. (2016). Species of Astroblepus in FishBase. June 2016 version.
  2. Romero, A. (2001). The biology of hypogean fishes. Developments in Environmental Biology of Fishes. Springer Netherlands. p. 376. ISBN 978-1-4020-0076-8.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Schaefer, S.A. & Buitrago-Suárez, U.A. (2002): Odontode morphology and skin surface features of Andean astroblepid catfishes (Siluriformes, Astroblepidae). Journal of Morphology, 254 (2): 139–148.
  4. 1 2 Ardila Rodríguez, C.A. (2011): Astroblepus itae, Astroblepus acostai. Dos nuevas especies del Río Cáchira y Río Sinú, Colombia. Universidad Metropolitana de Barranquilla. Barranquilla, Colombia. 16 pp.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 Ardila Rodríguez, C.A. (2015): Five new species of astroblepid fish for Colombian Andes. Revista de la Asociación Colombiana de Ciencias Biológicas, 27 (1): 124-135.
  6. Ardila Rodríguez, C.A. (2012): Astroblepus ardilai sp. nov. Una nuevas especie de pez del los Andes del Municipio de Floridablanca, Departamento de Norte de Santander – Colombia. Peces del Departamento de Santander – Colombia, 5: 1-21.
  7. Ardila Rodríguez, C.A. (2011): Astroblepus cacharas (Teleostei: Siluriformes: Astroblepidae), nueva especie del río Cáchira, cuenca del río Magdalena, Colombia. Dahlia, 11: 23–33.
  8. 1 2 3 4 Ardila Rodríguez, C.A. (2013): Astroblepus hidalgoiA. floridaensisA. huallagaensis y A. cajamarcaensis: Cuatro nuevas especies de los Andes del Peru. Universidad Metropolitana de Barranquilla. Barranquilla, Colombia. 22pp.
  9. 1 2 3 Ardila Rodríguez, C.A. (2014): Astroblepus tamboensisA. chinchaoensis y A. moyanensis: Tres nuevas especies de los Andes del Peru. Universidad Metropolitana de Barranquilla. Barranquilla, Colombia. 22pp.
  10. 1 2 3 4 Ardila Rodríguez, C.A. (2015): Astroblepus verai sp. nov. – A. pradai, A. curitiensis y A. onzagaensis. Cuatro nuevas especies del Departamento de Santander – Colombia. Barranquilla, Departamento del Atlántico, 2015 (7): 1-24.
  11. Ardila Rodríguez, C.A. (2016): Astroblepus floridablancaensis sp. nov. una nueva Especie de Janbonero (Siluriformes: Astroblepidae) del Municipio de Floridablanca, Departamento de Santander – Colombia. Peces del Departamento de Santander – Colombia, 8: 1-20.
  12. 1 2 Ardila Rodríguez, C.A. (2013): Astroblepus martinezi y Astroblepus jimenezae: Dos nuevas especies del Río Sinú y Río Atrato, Colombia. Universidad Metropolitana de Barranquilla. Barranquilla, Colombia. 20pp.
  13. Ardila Rodríguez, C.A. (2014): Astroblepus mendezi sp. nov. una nueva especie de pez de Panamá. Universidad Metropolitana de Barranquilla. Barranquilla, Colombia. 17pp.
  14. 1 2 Ardila Rodríguez, C.A. (2012): Astroblepus ortegai y Astroblepus quispei. Dos nuevas especies des los Andes del Perú. Universidad Metropolitana de Barranquilla. Barranquilla, Colombia. 16 pp.
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