Neblinichthys

Neblinichthys
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Division: Teleostei
Order: Siluriformes
Family: Loricariidae
Subfamily: Hypostominae
Genus: Neblinichthys
Ferraris, Isbrücker & Nijssen, 1986
Type species
Neblinichthys pilosus
Ferraris, Isbrücker & Nijssen, 1986

Neblinichthys is a genus of freshwater ray-finned fishes belonging to the family Loricariidae, the suckermouth armoured catfishes, and the subfamily Hypostominae, the suckermouth catfishes. The catfishes in this genus are found in South America.

Taxonomy

Neblinichthys was first proposed as a monospecific genus in 1986 by Carl J. Ferraris Jr., Isaäc J. H. Isbrücker and Han Nijssen when they described Neblinichthys pilosus, which they also designated as the type species of the new genus. The type locality of N. pilosus was given as a Río Mawarinuma tributary, at the Neblina base camp, on the right bank in a riffle, at 0°55'N, 66°10'W, from an elevation of 120 m (390 ft). Some authorities regard this genus as being within the tribe Ancistrini of the subfamily Hypostominae, but Eschmeyer's Catalog of Fishes does not recognise tribes within the subfamily Hypostominae.

Etymology

Neblinichthys adds the suffix -ichthys, meaning "fish" onto Neblina, the type locality of its type species, a camp on the Rio Mawarinuma.

Species

Neblinichthys contains the following valid species

Appearance and anatomy

Neblinichthys species are unique in that the breeding males have a snout brush formed by elongate, bristle-like odontodes pointing forwards on the snout. More fairly elongated odontodes are found on the top of the head and on the body. Otherwise they appear rather similar to Lasiancistrus species. Females and juveniles may be differentiated from Lasiancistrus species by the lack of cheek whiskers. Neblinichthys species also have their pectoral fin and pelvic fin spines the same length.

Distribution and habitat

Neblinichthys catfishes are found in rivers draining off the Guiana Shield in Venezuela and Guyana. They occur at mid-altitude locations, and are possibly restricted to streams along the sides of tepuis and other granite outcrops.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Fricke, Ron; Eschmeyer, William N. & van der Laan, Richard (eds.). "Genera in the family Hypostominae". Catalog of Fishes. California Academy of Sciences. Retrieved 28 July 2026.
  2. 1 2 Fricke, Ron; Eschmeyer, William N. & van der Laan, Richard (eds.). "Species in the genus Neblinichthys". Catalog of Fishes. California Academy of Sciences. Retrieved 28 July 2026.
  3. ↑ Armbruster, J. W. and N. K. Lujan (2025). "New tribe-level classification of Hypostominae (Loricariidae) based on optimization of morphological states on DNA-based relationships, with descriptions of three new tribes and two new genera". Neotropical Ichthyology. 22 (4)): 1–32. doi:10.1590/1982-0224-2024-0108.
  4. ↑ Christopher Scharpf (17 July 2026). "Family LORICARIIDAE: Subfamily HYPOSTOMINAE Kner 1853 (Suckermouth Catfishes or Plecos)". The ETYFish Project Fish Name Etymology Database. Christopher Scharpf. Retrieved 28 July 2026.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Armbruster, Jonathan W. "Neblinichthys". Retrieved 2007-06-01.
  6. ↑ Jonathan W. Armbruster and Donald C. Taphorn (2013). "Description of Neblinichthys peniculatus, a new species of loricariid catfish from the río Paragua drainage of Venezuela". Neotroprical Ichthyology. 11 (1): 65–72. doi:10.1590/S1679-62252013000100007.