Rhamphichthyidae
Encyclopedia
Sand knifefishes are freshwater fishes of the Rhamphichthyidae family
, from South America
. There are only 3 genera
and around 15 species
in this group.
Just like most part of the members of the Gymnotiformes
group, they also have elongated and compressed bodies and electric organs. The long anal fin actually extends from before the pectoral fins to the tip of the tail. There is no dorsal fin. Teeth are absent in the oral jaws and the snout is very long and tubular. The nostrils are very close together. This group is sometimes known as the tubesnout knifefishes for this reason.
They are nocturnal and burrow in the sand during the day.
Family (biology)
In biological classification, family is* a taxonomic rank. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, genus, and species, with family fitting between order and genus. As for the other well-known ranks, there is the option of an immediately lower rank, indicated by the...
, from South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
. There are only 3 genera
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
and around 15 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...
in this group.
Just like most part of the members of the Gymnotiformes
Gymnotiformes
The Gymnotiformes are a group of teleost bony fishes commonly known as the Neotropical or South American knifefishes. They have long bodies and swim using undulations of their elongated anal fin...
group, they also have elongated and compressed bodies and electric organs. The long anal fin actually extends from before the pectoral fins to the tip of the tail. There is no dorsal fin. Teeth are absent in the oral jaws and the snout is very long and tubular. The nostrils are very close together. This group is sometimes known as the tubesnout knifefishes for this reason.
They are nocturnal and burrow in the sand during the day.
Species
Species list below is according to ITIS.- Gymnorhamphichthys EllisEllisEllis is a first name and surname of Welshoriginal spelling. At the time of the British Census of 1881, its relative frequency was highest in Merioneth , followed by Flintshire, Denbighshire, Caernarfonshire, Montgomeryshire, Anglesey, Devon, Kinross-shire, Shropshire and Yorkshire...
in EigenmannEigenmannEigenmann may mean:* Carl H. Eigenmann , ichthyologist, husband of Rosa Eigenmann.* Rosa Smith Eigenmann , ichthyologist, wife of Carl Eigenmann....
, 1912- Gymnorhamphichthys hypostomus Ellis in Eigenmann, 1912
- Gymnorhamphichthys petiti Géry and Vu-Tân-Tuê, 1964
- Gymnorhamphichthys rondoni (Miranda Ribeiro, 1920)
- Gymnorhamphichthys rosamariae Schwassmann, 1989
- Iracema Triques, 1996
- Iracema caiana Triques, 1996
- Rhamphichthys MüllerJohannes Peter MüllerJohannes Peter Müller , was a German physiologist, comparative anatomist, and ichthyologist not only known for his discoveries but also for his ability to synthesize knowledge.-Early years and education:...
and TroschelFranz Hermann TroschelFranz Hermann Troschel was a German zoologist who was born in Spandau. He studied mathematics and natural history at the University of Berlin, and beginning in 1840 was an assistant to Martin Lichtenstein at the Humboldt Museum of Natural History in Berlin...
, 1849- Rhamphichthys apurensis (Fernández-Yépez, 1968)
- Rhamphichthys atlanticus Triques, 1999
- Rhamphichthys drepanium Triques, 1999
- Rhamphichthys hahni (Meinken, 1937)
- Rhamphichthys lineatus CastelnauFrançois Louis de la Porte, comte de CastelnauFrançois Louis Nompar de Caumont LaPorte, comte de Castelnau was a French naturalist, known also as François Laporte or Francis de Castelnau.-Life:Born in London, he studied natural history in Paris...
, 1855 - Rhamphichthys longior Triques, 1999
- Rhamphichthys marmoratus Castelnau, 1855
- Rhamphichthys rostratus (LinnaeusCarolus LinnaeusCarl Linnaeus , also known after his ennoblement as , was a Swedish botanist, physician, and zoologist, who laid the foundations for the modern scheme of binomial nomenclature. He is known as the father of modern taxonomy, and is also considered one of the fathers of modern ecology...
, 1766) - Rhamphichthys schomburgki KaupJohann Jakob KaupJohann Jakob Kaup was a German naturalist.-Biography:He was born at Darmstadt. After studying at Göttingen and Heidelberg he spent two years at Leiden, where his attention was specially devoted to the amphibians and fishes. He then returned to Darmstadt as an assistant in the grand ducal museum,...
, 1856