Kingdom Animalia Order Siluriformes Subfamily Callichthyinae Rank Genus | Phylum Chordata Family Callichthyidae Scientific name Lepthoplosternum | |
Lower classifications Lepthoplosternum pectorale | ||
Lepthoplosternum pectorale catfish 2011
Lepthoplosternum is a small genus of freshwater catfish in the Callichthyinae subfamily of the armored catfish family.
Contents
Lepthoplosternum pectorale juveniles
Taxonomy
The type species for this genus is Callichthys pectoralis. The name is derived from the Greek leptos, meaning "thin", the Greek hoplon, meaning "weapon", and the Greek sternon, meaning "chest" or "sternum". Lepthoplosternum is relatively basal among callichthyines, being sister to the clade comprising Megalechis + Dianema + Hoplosternum. Callichthys is the most basal genus in the subfamily.
L. stellatum and L. ucamara are hypothesized to form a partially unresolved polytomy with L. pectorale and L. beni, which are sister-species to each other. L. tordilho is sister to these four species and L. altamazonicum is the most basal species.
Species
There are currently six recognized species in this genus:
Distribution and habitat
Lepthoplosternum is widely distributed in cis-Andean South America south of the Orinoco River basin.
Ecology
Lepthoplosternum species usually inhabit lentic or slow flowing water bodies and are often associated with marginal or floating vegetation. L. ucamara has even been found in hypoxic conditions. However, the type locality of L. stellatum is a stream, permanently flowing and well oxygenated.
Description
Lepthoplosternum species are the smallest callichthyines (maximum standard length 60.3 mm) and are easily recognized by two synapomorphies: the lower lip with deep medial notch and a small, additional lateral notch forming fleshy projections on each side; and a single unbranched ray preceding the branched ones on the anal fin.