Ituglanis
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| Ituglanis | |
|---|---|
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| Ituglanis nebulosus | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Siluriformes |
| Family: | Trichomycteridae |
| Subfamily: | Trichomycterinae |
| Genus: | Ituglanis Costa & Bockmann, 1993[1] |
| Type species | |
| Pygidium proops parahybae Eigenmann, 1918[1] | |
Ituglanis is a genus of small freshwater ray-finned fish belonging to the family Trichomycteridae, the pencil and parasitic catfishes. These catfishes are found in South America. Their greatest diversity seems to occur in the Amazon River basin.[2] Most species inhabit leaf litter, with several species living in caves.[2]
This genus was first erected for nine species previously classified in Trichomycterus.[3] Ituglanis is believed to be a monophyletic group.[3] There may be two monophyletic groups within this genus.[2] Ituglanis is currently considered a member of the subfamily Trichomycterinae though its position as a member of any of the current subfamilies has been questioned.[4][5] Instead, it has been suggested to be the sister group of a large clade composed of the Glanapteryginae, Sarcoglanidinae, Stegophilinae, Tridentinae and Vandelliinae.[2]