Microphilypnus
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Microphilypnus | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Gobiiformes |
| Family: | Eleotridae |
| Genus: | Microphilypnus G. S. Myers, 1927 |
| Type species | |
| Microphilypnus ternetzi G. S. Myers, 1927[1] | |
Microphilypnus is a genus of small fishes in the family Eleotridae native to the Amazon and Orinoco basins in South America. At up to 2.4 cm (0.94 in) in standard length,[2] they are among the smallest sleeper gobies, but however larger than the Leptophilypnion sleeper gobies from the same region.[3] The bottom-dwelling Microphilypnus are typically found in shallow water among leaf-litter or partially buried in sand,[4] and they can be very abundant in their habitat.[5] Their small size combined with a speckled and semi-transparent appearance makes them highly cryptic.[4] They somewhat resemble certain freshwater shrimp (Palaemonetes and Pseudopalaemon), as well as Priocharax characins, and they sometimes group together.[4] Microphilypnus feed on tiny invertebrates.[5]
