Callichthys
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| Callichthys | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Cascarudo (Callichthys callichthys). | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Siluriformes |
| Family: | Callichthyidae |
| Subfamily: | Callichthyinae |
| Genus: | Callichthys Scopoli, 1777[1] |
| Type species | |
| Callichthys callichthys | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
Callichthys is a genus of freshwater ray-finned fish belonging to the family Callichthyidae and the subfamily Callichthyinae, the armored catfishes. The genus Callichthys is distributed in most freshwater drainages of South America.[2]
The type species for this genus is Callichtys callichthys. The name Callichthys is derived from the Greek kallos (beautiful) and ichthys (fish).[3] 3 of the 4 species were described only relatively recently.[4]
The genus Callichthys is in need of taxonomic work, as it includes 13 nominal species but specimens of this genus are usually referred to as C. callichthys regardless of collecting locality.[4]
According to a 1997 paper, Callichthys is the most basal member of the subfamily.[5] In a 2004 study, different relationships among the callichthyines were found: Dianema and Hoplosternum form the most basal clade, and Callichthys is sister to Lepthoplosternum and Megalechis.[6]
Species
There are currently four recognized species in this genus:[7]
- Callichthys callichthys (Linnaeus, 1758) (Cascarudo)
- Callichthys fabricioi Román-Valencia, Lehmann A. & Muñoz, 1999
- Callichthys oibaensis Ardila Rodríguez, 2006
- Callichthys serralabium Lehmann A. & R. E. dos Reis, 2004
Description
The genus Callichthys can be readily distinguished from other callichthyids by having the coracoids covered by skin and not exposed ventrally, the infraorbital bones also covered by skin, and the head highly depressed with less than 75% of the cleithral width (except sometimes in mature males).[4]