Lithogenes is a genus of South American catfish of the family Loricariidae. It is the only genus within the subfamily Lithogeneinae.
Lithogenes | |
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Scientific classification ![]() | |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Actinopterygii |
Order: | Siluriformes |
Family: | Loricariidae |
Subfamily: | Lithogeneinae |
Genus: | Lithogenes Eigenmann, 1909 |
Lithogenes is the only genus within the subfamily Lithogeneinae. This genus and subfamily, the most basal group in Loricariidae, is the sister group to the rest of the family.[1] Relative to an undescribed species of Lithogeneinae, L. valencia has sister group relationship to L. villosus.[2]
The three recognized species in this genus are:[3]
As members of the family Loricariidae, all Lithogenes species have a suckermouth. However, unlike most loricariids, species of the genus Lithogenes possess armor plating only on the latter half of the body. Their eyes are small and their bodies flattened.[2][1]
L. villosus originates from the Essequibo River drainage of the Guiana Shield.[4] An undescribed species of Lithogenes is known from the Orinoco basin of the Guiana Shield.[2] L. valencia has only been known from six specimens collected in the 1970s from tributaries of the Lake Valencia in northern Venezuela; however, this area has since been polluted and this species possibly is now extinct.[2]
L. villosus lives in habitats dominated by rapids over bedrock, and L. valencia likely does, as well.[2][1]
Taxon identifiers | |
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Lithogenes | |
Lithogeneinae |