Hemiancistrus

Taxobox
name = "Hemiancistrus"


image_width = 240px
image_caption =
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Actinopterygii
ordo = Siluriformes
familia = Loricariidae
subfamilia = Hypostominae
tribus = Ancistrini
genus = "Hemiancistrus"
genus_authority = Bleeker, 1862
subdivision_ranks = Species
subdivision = See text.
synonyms="Ancistomus" Isbrücker and Seidel 2001

"Hemiancistrus" is a genus of small South American armored suckermouth catfishes. The taxonomy of this genus is complex and unclear, and major work has to be done. Many of these fish are popular aquarium fish.

Taxonomy

"Hemiancistrus" is a genus within the tribe Ancistrini of the subfamily Hypostominae. This genus has long been used as a sort of dump for Loricariid species; fish with unclear relationships have been classified to this genus. As such, this taxon is not monophyletic. At this point, many undescribed species remain.

This genus and the closely related "Peckoltia" may be synonymous, as neither genus is supported by synapomorphies.cite journal|url=http://www.mapress.com/zootaxa/2003f/zt00344.pdf|title="Peckoltia sabaji", a new species from the Guyana Shield (Siluriformes: Loricariidae)|last=Armbruster|first=Jonathan A.|journal=Zootaxa|volume=344|pages=1–12|year=2003|format=PDF] "Hemiancistrus" species differ from other members of the "Panaque" clade lacking the synapomorphies of the other genera and having the dentaries meeting at an angle greater than 120°; in "Peckoltia" species, the dentaries meet at less than 90° Generally, "Peckoltia" are considered to be those that have dorsal saddles and bands in the fins, while "Heminancistrus" have spots and uniform coloration.cite journal|url=http://www.mapress.com/zootaxa/2005f/zt00882.pdf|title="Peckoltia cavatica", a new loricariid catfish from Guyana and a redescription of "P. braueri" (Eigenmann 1912) (Siluriformes)|last=Armbruster|first=Jonathan A.|coauthors=Werneke; David C.|journal=Zootaxa|volume=882|pages=1–14|year=2005|format=PDF] Many species of "Peckoltia" may actually belong to "Hemiancistrus".

What species belong to this genus has been unclear. Many newer species have been tentatively assigned to "Hemiancistrus". "Peckoltia sabaji" has been moved to "Hemiancistrus".

There are also a number of undescribed genera. "H. landoni" possibly represents its own monotypic genus.cite web|url=http://www.auburn.edu/academic/science_math/res_area/loricariid/fish_key/Hlandon/hlandon.html|title="Hemiancistrus landoni"|last=Armbruster|first=Jonathan A.|accessdate=2007-05-05] Also, a group of species called the "H. annectens" group" may also represent another undescribed genus that is more closely related to "Pterygoplichthys".cite web|url=http://www.auburn.edu/academic/science_math/res_area/loricariid/fish_key/hannect/hannect.html|title="H. annectens" group|last=Armbruster|first=Jonathan A.|accessdate=2007-05-05]

pecies

This species that make up this genus undergoes much change. This list is based on Armbruster. Although the recently described "H. micromattos" and "H. spinosissimus" have been considered synonyms of "H. spilomma" by Armbruster,cite web|url=http://www.auburn.edu/academic/science_math/res_area/loricariid/fish_key/Hemian/hemian.html|title="Hemiancistrus"|last=Armbruster|first=Jonathan A.|accessdate=2007-05-05] they have more recently been considered valid.cite journal|A new species of "Hemiancistrus" from the rio Araguaia basin, Goiás state, Brazil (Siluriformes: Loricariidae)|first=Lesley S. de|last=Souza|coauthors=Melo, Marcelo R. S.; Chamon, Carine C.; Armbruster, Jonathan W.|journal=Neotropical Ichthyology|volume=6|issue=3|pages=419-424|year=2008]

*"H. cerrado" Souza, Melo, Chamon & Armbruster, 2008
*"H. chlorostictus" Cardoso and Malabarba, 1999
*"H. fuliginosus" Cardoso and Malabarba, 1999
*"H. guahiborum" Werneke, Armbruster, Lujan & Taphorn, 2005cite journal|url=http://www.ufrgs.br/ni/vol3num4%5CNI_v3n4p543-548lowr.pdf|title="Hemiancistrus guahiborum", a new suckermouth armored catfish from Southern Venezuela (Siluriformes: Loricariidae)|last=Werneke|first=David C.|coauthors=Armbruster, Jonathan W.; Lujan, Nathan K.; Taphorn, Donald C.|journal=Neotropical Ichthyology|volume=3|issue=4|pages=543–548|year=2005|publisher=Sociedade Brasileira de Ictiologia|format=PDF|doi=10.1590/S1679-62252005000400012]
*"H. macrops" (Lütken, 1874)
*"H. medians" (Kner, 1854)
*"H. megalopteryx" Cardoso, 2004cite journal|title="Hemiancistrus megalopteryx", a new species of loricariid catfish from the rio Tubarão drainage, Santa Catarina State, Brazil (Teleostei: Siluriformes: Loricariidae)|first=Alexandre R.|last=Cardoso|journal=Ichthyol. Explor. Freshwaters|volume=15|issue=2|pages=173–178]
*"H. meizospilos" Cardoso & da Silva, 2004cite journal|url=http://www.ufrgs.br/ni/vol2num1%5Cvol2_1_01a08_hemiancistrusLR.pdf|title=Two new species of the genus "Hemiancistrus" Bleeker (Teleostei: Siluriformes: Loricariidae) from the upper rio Uruguai basin|first=Alexandre Rodrigues|last=Cardoso|coauthors=da Silva, José Francisco Pezzi|journal=Neotropical Ichthyology|volume=2|issue=1|pages=1–8|year=2004|format=PDF|doi=10.1590/S1679-62252004000100001]
*"H. micromattos" Cardoso and Lucinda 2003
*"H. punctulatus" Cardoso & Malabarba, 1999
*"H. sabaji" (Armbruster, 2003)
*"H. spilomma" Cardoso & Lucinda, 2003
*"H. spinosissimus" Cardoso & Lucinda, 2003
*"H. votouro" Cardoso & da Silva, 2004
*"H. snethlageae" (Steindachner, 1911)
*"H. subviridis" Werneke, Sabaj, Lujan & Armbruster, 2005cite journal|url=http://silurus.acnatsci.org/ACSI/participants/profiles/Sabaj/pdfs/Werneke_etal2005.pdf|title="Baryancistrus demantoides" and "Hemiancistrus subviridis", two new uniquely colored species of catfishes from Venezuela (Siluriformes: Loricariidae)|first=David C.|last=Werneke|coauthors=Sabaj, Mark H.; Lujan, Nathan K.; Armbruster, Jonathan W.|journal=Neotropical Ichthyology|volume=3|issue=4|pages=533–542|year=2005|publisher=Sociedade Brasileira de Ictiologia|format=PDF|doi=10.1590/S1679-62252005000400011]

The species listed below are part of the unnamed genus of the "H. annectens" group.
*"H. annectens" (Regan, 1904)
*"H. aspidolepis" (Günther, 1867)
*"H. fugleri" (Ovchynnyk, 1971)
*"H. holostictus" Regan, 1913
*"H. maracaiboensis" Schultz, 1944
*"H. panamensis" (Eigenmann, 1922)
*"H. wilsoni" Eigenmann, 1918

Distribution and habitat

"Hemiancistrus" species are found in most cis-Andean regions of South America and Panama, as well as in Pacific coast drainages of Ecuador. The genus exhibits a large distribution area ranging from the Panama, in Central America, to southern Brazil. "Hemiancistrus" originate from the Guyanas, the Negro and Orinoco and the southern Amazonian tributaries. These fish prefer flowing water habitats of medium to large rivers.

Appearance and anatomy

"Hemiancistrus" are members of the family Loricariidae, the armored suckermouth catfishes. As such, they have armor plating on their body instead of scales. Also, they have a suckermouth which they use to cling to rocks in their habitat. They have the characteristic Loricariid omega iris as well. Like many other catfish, "Hemiancistrus" have strong pectoral and dorsal fin spines that can be locked outwards as a defense.

"Hemiancistrus" species are rather small to medium-sized Loricariid species. The largest species of the genus, "H. megalopteryx", reaches about 29 centimetres (12 in). These fish also tend to be spotted or uniform in coloration.

In the aquarium

"Hemiancistrus" species are popular aquarium fish. Many species are relatively small and attractively colored. "H. subviridis" is one such example, a bright green fish with yellow spots. [cite web|url=http://www.planetcatfish.com/cotm/cotm.php?article_id=151|title=Catfish of the Month::September 2003|publisher=PlanetCatfish.com|accessdate=2007-05-05] However, "H. guahiborum" is only rarely imported; despite being common in its natural habitat, it is less attractive than "H. subviridis", which occurs in the same area.

References