Rivulidae
Encyclopedia
Rivulidae are a family
of killifish
es in the order
Cyprinodontiformes
. They are commonly known as rivulids, South American killifish or New World killifish. The latter names are slightly misleading however, as they are neither restricted to South America
– though most are in fact found there –, nor are they the only killifishes from the Americas
. Occasionally they are still referred to as rivulines, a term dating back to when they were considered a subfamily of the Aplocheilidae
.
Note that the subfamilial name "Rivulinae" was already established for noctuid moths by Augustus Radcliffe Grote
in 1895. That name, though it is the senior homonym, may be suppressed because the name Rivulinae for the fish subfamily is widespread, whereas the moth taxon is little used.
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...
of killifish
Killifish
A killifish is any of various oviparous cyprinodontiform fish . Altogether, there are some 1270 different species of killifish, the biggest family being Rivulidae, containing more than 320 species...
es in the order
Order (biology)
In scientific classification used in biology, the order is# a taxonomic rank used in the classification of organisms. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, family, genus, and species, with order fitting in between class and family...
Cyprinodontiformes
Cyprinodontiformes
The Cyprinodontiformes is an order of ray-finned fish, comprising mostly small, fresh-water fish. Many popular aquarium fish, such as killifish and live-bearers, are included. They are closely related to the Atheriniformes and are occasionally included with them...
. They are commonly known as rivulids, South American killifish or New World killifish. The latter names are slightly misleading however, as they are neither restricted to 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...
– though most are in fact found there –, nor are they the only killifishes from the Americas
Americas
The Americas, or America , are lands in the Western hemisphere, also known as the New World. In English, the plural form the Americas is often used to refer to the landmasses of North America and South America with their associated islands and regions, while the singular form America is primarily...
. Occasionally they are still referred to as rivulines, a term dating back to when they were considered a subfamily of the Aplocheilidae
Aplocheilidae
Aplocheilidae are a family of bony fishes containing about 15 species. Formerly, the name "Aplocheilidae" was used for the Aplocheiloidei as a whole, i.e. including the Nothobranchiidae of Africa and the mainly South American Rivulidae as subfamilies. This obsolete system is sometimes still seen,...
.
Note that the subfamilial name "Rivulinae" was already established for noctuid moths by Augustus Radcliffe Grote
Augustus Radcliffe Grote
Augustus Radcliffe Grote was a British entomologist who worked mainly in America.Grote investigated, discovered and designated various butterflies and moths in North America, particularly in the USA, Mexico and Cuba.-Works:* The effect of the glacial epoch upon the distribution of insects in North...
in 1895. That name, though it is the senior homonym, may be suppressed because the name Rivulinae for the fish subfamily is widespread, whereas the moth taxon is little used.
Genera
- Aphyolebias Costa, 1998
- Austrofundulus Myers, 1932
- Austrolebias Costa, 1998
- CampellolebiasCampellolebiasCampellolebias is a genus of fish in the Aplocheilidae family.It contains the following species:* Campellolebias brucei – Santa Catarina Sabrefin* Campellolebias chrysolineatus* Campellolebias dorsimaculatus...
- CynolebiasCynolebiasCynolebias is a genus of freshwater annual fish in the Rivulidae family, native to South America. They are a typical annual killifish, part of the order Cyprinodontiformes. Many species have rather small distributions...
- Cynopoecilus Regan, 1912
- Gnatholebias Costa, 1998
- Kryptolebias Costa, 2004
- LeptolebiasLeptolebiasLeptolebias is a ray-finned fish genus of the killifish family Rivulidae. Like many of their relatives, they are rather ambiguously known as "pearlfish"....
- Llanolebias Hrbek & Taphorn, 2008 (formerly in Rachovia)
- Maratecoara Costa, 1995
- Megalebias Costa, 1998
- Micromoema Costa, 1998
- Millerichthys Costa, 1995
- Moema Costa, 1989
- Nematolebias Costa, 1998
- Neofundulus Myers, 1924
- Notholebias Costa, 2008 (formerly in Leptolebias)
- Papiliolebias Costa, 1998
- Pituna Costa, 1989
- Plesiolebias Costa, 1989
- Prorivulus Costa, Lima & Suzart in Costa, 2004
- Pterolebias Garman, 1895
- Rachovia Myers, 1927
- Renova Thomerson & Taphorn, 1995
- RivulusRivulusRivulus is a genus of freshwater fish in the Rivulidae family of Cyprinodontiformes. Over one hundred species of Rivulus have been described to date, some of them finding a degree of popularity among aquarists, especially killifish fanciers...
- Simpsonichthys Carvalho, 1959
- Spectrolebias Costa & Nielsen, 1997
- Stenolebias Costa, 1995
- Terranatos Taphorn & Thomerson, 1978
- Trigonectes Myers, 1925