Apistoloricaria
Encyclopedia
Apistoloricaria is a genus of freshwater fish in the Loricariidae
family of order Siluriformes. It includes four species
, A. condei, A. laani, A. istrorhinos, and A. ommation.
or corslet of leather. Apistoloricaria is not well diagnosed and upon further examination, may prove to be a synonym
of Rhadinoloricaria.
and Orinoco drainages, along the Atlantic slope of the Andes
. A. condei is found in the Napo River
. A. laani is found in the Meta River
. A. listrorhinos is found in the Metica River. A. ommation is found in the Lower Marañón River
.
A. condei is found in turbid and dark waters, in moderately fast flowing streams, between 2–10 metres deep (6–33 feet); no submerged vegetation is found here, and the bottom was made of sand, mud, dead leaves, twigs, branches, and trunks.
. In members of this genus and other closely related genera, the body is strongly depressed and the pelvic fins are used for locomotion, enabling these fish to appear to “walk” on the substrate. Sexual dimorphism
is apparent through differentiated lip structure. The lip surfaces of the male are rather papillose while those of the female are filamentous.
These species are abdomino-lip brooders; eggs are laid in a single layered mass, and are attached to the surface of the lower lip and abdomen of the male.
Loricariidae
Loricariidae is the largest family of catfish , with almost 700 species and new species being described each year. Loricariids originate from fresh water habitats of Costa Rica, Panama, and tropical and subtropical South America. These fish are noted for the bony plates covering their bodies and...
family of order Siluriformes. It includes four species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
, A. condei, A. laani, A. istrorhinos, and A. ommation.
Taxonomy
The type species is Apistoloricaria condei. The genus name comes from the Greek apisto meaning uncertain and the Latin lorica or loricare meaning cuirassCuirass
A cuirass is a piece of armour, formed of a single or multiple pieces of metal or other rigid material, which covers the front of the torso...
or corslet of leather. Apistoloricaria is not well diagnosed and upon further examination, may prove to be a synonym
Synonym (taxonomy)
In scientific nomenclature, a synonym is a scientific name that is or was used for a taxon of organisms that also goes by a different scientific name. For example, Linnaeus was the first to give a scientific name to the Norway spruce, which he called Pinus abies...
of Rhadinoloricaria.
Distribution and habitat
Representatives of this genus are distributed in the upper AmazonAmazon River
The Amazon of South America is the second longest river in the world and by far the largest by waterflow with an average discharge greater than the next seven largest rivers combined...
and Orinoco drainages, along the Atlantic slope of the Andes
Andes
The Andes is the world's longest continental mountain range. It is a continual range of highlands along the western coast of South America. This range is about long, about to wide , and of an average height of about .Along its length, the Andes is split into several ranges, which are separated...
. A. condei is found in the Napo River
Napo River
The Napo is a tributary to the Amazon River that rises in Ecuador on the flanks of the volcanoes of Antisana, Sincholagua and Cotopaxi.The total length of 1075 km. Catchment area of 100,518 square kilometers...
. A. laani is found in the Meta River
Meta River
The Meta River is formed in the Meta Department, Colombia by the confluence of the Humea, Guatiquía and Guayuriba rivers. It flows east-northeastward across the Llanos Orientales plains of Colombia through an ancient fault...
. A. listrorhinos is found in the Metica River. A. ommation is found in the Lower Marañón River
Marañón River
The Marañón River rises about 160 km to the northeast of Lima, Peru, flows through a deeply-eroded Andean valley in a northwesterly direction, along the eastern base of the Cordillera of the Andes, as far as 5 degrees 36' southern latitude; then it makes a great bend to the northeast, and...
.
A. condei is found in turbid and dark waters, in moderately fast flowing streams, between 2–10 metres deep (6–33 feet); no submerged vegetation is found here, and the bottom was made of sand, mud, dead leaves, twigs, branches, and trunks.
Appearance and ecology
These fish range from 10–14 centimetres (4–5.5 in) SLFish measurement
Fish measurement refers to the measuring of the length of individual fish and of various parts of their anatomy. These data are used in many areas of ichthyology, including taxonomy and fisheries biology.-Overall length:...
. In members of this genus and other closely related genera, the body is strongly depressed and the pelvic fins are used for locomotion, enabling these fish to appear to “walk” on the substrate. Sexual dimorphism
Sexual dimorphism
Sexual dimorphism is a phenotypic difference between males and females of the same species. Examples of such differences include differences in morphology, ornamentation, and behavior.-Examples:-Ornamentation / coloration:...
is apparent through differentiated lip structure. The lip surfaces of the male are rather papillose while those of the female are filamentous.
These species are abdomino-lip brooders; eggs are laid in a single layered mass, and are attached to the surface of the lower lip and abdomen of the male.