Sisoridae
Encyclopedia
Sisoridae is a family
of catfish
es (order
Siluriformes). These Asian catfish live in fast-moving waters and often have adaptations that allow them to adhere to objects in their habitat.
group based on morphological and molecular evidence. Sisoridae is divided into two subfamilies, Sisorinae and Glyptosterninae (glyptosternoids). Sisorinae contains the five genera Bagarius
, Gagata
, Gogangra
, Nangra
, and Sisor
. Glyptosterninae contains three tribes. Glyptothoracini contains only the genus Glyptothorax
and Pseudecheneidina contains only the genus Pseudecheneis
. The remaining genera, Euchiloglanis
, Exostoma
, Glaridoglanis, Glyptosternon
, Myersglanis
, Oreoglanis
, Parachiloglanis, Pareuchiloglanis
, and Pseudexostoma
, are contained in the tribe Glyptosternina. The monophyly
of the entire family and the tribe Glyptosterninae are well supported by osteological morphology and molecular data.
In the genera Glyptothorax (tribe Glyptothoracini) and Pseudecheneis (tribe Pseudecheneidina), the species have a thoracic adhesive apparatus to attach to objects in the stream bed; in Glyptothorax, grooves of this apparatus run parallel or oblique to the axis of the body, while in Pseudecheneis groovs run transverse to the axis of the body. The thoracic adhesive apparatus is not present in the other sisorid genera. The paired fins may be plait
ed to form an adhesive apparatus in Pseudecheneis, glyptosternoids, and variably in Glyptothorax. Thus, glyptosternoids lack a thoracic adhesive apparatus but do have plaited paired fins, and members of the subfamily Sisorinae lack either a thoracic adhesive apparatus or plaited paired fins.
The monophyly of certain glyptosternoid genera is doubtful. The paraphyly
of Pareuchiloglanis, Oreoglanis, and Pseudexostoma (with the possible inclusion of Myersglanis and Parachiloglanis) has been demonstrated and a rediagnosis of glyptosternine genera is needed.
Evidence from a 2007 molecular analysis supports polyphyly of Pareuchiloglanis. Glaridoglanis might be a basal
member of the tribe Glyptosternina. Pseudecheneis may be placed in the tribe Glyptosternina, but its sister-group relationship between it and the monophyletic glyptosternoids cannot be rejected.
It has been proposed to move the genera of Erethistidae
into Sisoridae.
, from Turkey
and Syria
to South China
and Borneo
, primarily in the Oriental region. Glyptosterninae is distributed from the Caucasus
to China. Most glyptosternine genera are found in China, with the exception of Myersglanis. Glyptosternoid catfish species have restricted distributions, and many apparently wide-ranging species have been shown to consist of more than one species, each with restricted distributions. Sisorids are mostly small forms inhabit mountain streams.
. The origin of glyptosternoid fishes could be in the later Pliocene. Another study proposes glyptosternoids possibly originated in the Oligocene
-Miocene
boundary (19–24 Mya) and radiated from the Miocene to Pleistocene
along with several rapid speciation events in a relatively short time. The three great uplifts of the Qinghai
/Tibet
Plateau
destroyed the pattern of river systems in the late Pliocene to the early Pleistocene. The ancestor of Euchiloglanis originated from the allied Glyptosternon in the second uplift and Pareuchiloglanis, Pseudexostoma, Oreoglanis, Exostoma, and Glaridoglanis originated with the third uplift. The Exostoma group (Exostoma, Pseudexostoma, and Oreoglanis) originated after the outline of the Qinghai/Tibet Plateau was formed. The speciation of this group was not strong and the distribution limited.
ed paired fins, allow the fish to adhere to objects.
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 catfish
Catfish
Catfishes are a diverse group of ray-finned fish. Named for their prominent barbels, which resemble a cat's whiskers, catfish range in size and behavior from the heaviest and longest, the Mekong giant catfish from Southeast Asia and the second longest, the wels catfish of Eurasia, to detritivores...
es (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...
Siluriformes). These Asian catfish live in fast-moving waters and often have adaptations that allow them to adhere to objects in their habitat.
Taxonomy
Sisoridae is recognized as a natural, monophyleticMonophyly
In common cladistic usage, a monophyletic group is a taxon which forms a clade, meaning that it contains all the descendants of the possibly hypothetical closest common ancestor of the members of the group. The term is synonymous with the uncommon term holophyly...
group based on morphological and molecular evidence. Sisoridae is divided into two subfamilies, Sisorinae and Glyptosterninae (glyptosternoids). Sisorinae contains the five genera Bagarius
Bagarius
Bagarius is a genus of catfishes of the family Sisoridae. It includes four extant species, B. bagarius, B. rutilus, B. suchus, and B. yarelli , and one extinct species, B. gigas.-Distribution:Bagarius species inhabit south and southeast Asia...
, Gagata
Gagata
Gagata is a genus of catfishes of the family Sisoridae. It includes seven species, G. cenia, G. dolichonema, G. gagata, G. itchkeea, G. melanopterus, G. pakistanica, and G. sexualis. G. gasawyuh is considered a synonym of G. gagata and G. youssoufi of G...
, Gogangra
Gogangra
Gogangra is a genus of catfishes of the family Sisoridae. It includes two species, G. laevis and G. viridescens.-Taxonomy:G. viridescens was previously placed in the genus Nangra...
, Nangra
Nangra
Nangra is a genus of catfishes of the family Sisoridae. It includes five species, N. assamensis, N. bucculenta, N. nangra, N. ornata, and N. robusta. N. carcharhinoides is considered a synonym of N...
, and Sisor
Sisor
Sisor is a genus of catfishes of the family Sisoridae. It includes five species, S. barakensis, S. chennuah, S. rabdophorus, S. rheophilus, and S. torosus.-Taxonomy:...
. Glyptosterninae contains three tribes. Glyptothoracini contains only the genus Glyptothorax
Glyptothorax
Glyptothorax is a genus of catfishes of the family Sisoridae. It is the most species-rich and widely distributed genus in the family with some 73 described species and new forms being discovered on a regular basis.-Distribution:...
and Pseudecheneidina contains only the genus Pseudecheneis
Pseudecheneis
Pseudecheneis is a genus of catfishes of the family Sisoridae.-Distribution:Pseudecheneis species are rheophilic fish that occur in the headwaters of major river drainages throughout South and Southeast Asia. They are found in the upper reaches of rivers throughout the Subhimalayan and Indochinese...
. The remaining genera, Euchiloglanis
Euchiloglanis
Euchiloglanis is a genus of catfish in the family Sisoridae.-Species:* Euchiloglanis davidi * Euchiloglanis dorsoarcus Nguyen, 2005* Euchiloglanis kishinouyei Kimura, 1934...
, Exostoma
Exostoma
Exostoma is a genus of catfishes of the family Sisoridae. It includes four species that E. berdmorei, E. labiatum, E. stuarti, and E. vinciguerrae.-Taxonomy:...
, Glaridoglanis, Glyptosternon
Glyptosternon
Glyptosternon is a genus of catfishes of the family . It includes four species: , , , and .-Distribution: species are distributed in Indus drainage in Afghanistan, Pakistan, India , Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and western China, east to the Irrawaddy drainage in Burma...
, Myersglanis
Myersglanis
Myersglanis is a genus of catfishes of the family Sisoridae. It includes two species, M. blythii and E. jayarami.-Distribution and habitat:...
, Oreoglanis
Oreoglanis
Oreoglanis is a genus of catfishes of the family Sisoridae.-Taxonomy:The taxonomy of this group is currently under discussion and changes seem inevitable as the group is suspected to be non-monophyletic....
, Parachiloglanis, Pareuchiloglanis
Pareuchiloglanis
Pareuchiloglanis is a genus of catfishes of the family Sisoridae. It includes twenty species.-Taxonomy:The monophyly of this genus remains doubtful...
, and Pseudexostoma
Pseudexostoma
Pseudexostoma is a genus of catfishes of the family Sisoridae. It includes three species, P. brachysoma, P. longipterus, and P. yunnanensis.-Taxonomy:...
, are contained in the tribe Glyptosternina. The monophyly
Monophyly
In common cladistic usage, a monophyletic group is a taxon which forms a clade, meaning that it contains all the descendants of the possibly hypothetical closest common ancestor of the members of the group. The term is synonymous with the uncommon term holophyly...
of the entire family and the tribe Glyptosterninae are well supported by osteological morphology and molecular data.
In the genera Glyptothorax (tribe Glyptothoracini) and Pseudecheneis (tribe Pseudecheneidina), the species have a thoracic adhesive apparatus to attach to objects in the stream bed; in Glyptothorax, grooves of this apparatus run parallel or oblique to the axis of the body, while in Pseudecheneis groovs run transverse to the axis of the body. The thoracic adhesive apparatus is not present in the other sisorid genera. The paired fins may be plait
Plait
A plait may refer to:* Plait, also called a braid, intertwined strands of, for example, textile or hair* Plait, now called a pleat, a fold of fabric, used in clothing and upholstery* Plait , a fold in the columella of a gastropod mollusc...
ed to form an adhesive apparatus in Pseudecheneis, glyptosternoids, and variably in Glyptothorax. Thus, glyptosternoids lack a thoracic adhesive apparatus but do have plaited paired fins, and members of the subfamily Sisorinae lack either a thoracic adhesive apparatus or plaited paired fins.
The monophyly of certain glyptosternoid genera is doubtful. The paraphyly
Paraphyly
A group of taxa is said to be paraphyletic if the group consists of all the descendants of a hypothetical closest common ancestor minus one or more monophyletic groups of descendants...
of Pareuchiloglanis, Oreoglanis, and Pseudexostoma (with the possible inclusion of Myersglanis and Parachiloglanis) has been demonstrated and a rediagnosis of glyptosternine genera is needed.
Evidence from a 2007 molecular analysis supports polyphyly of Pareuchiloglanis. Glaridoglanis might be a basal
Basal (phylogenetics)
In phylogenetics, a basal clade is the earliest clade to branch in a larger clade; it appears at the base of a cladogram.A basal group forms an outgroup to the rest of the clade, such as in the following example:...
member of the tribe Glyptosternina. Pseudecheneis may be placed in the tribe Glyptosternina, but its sister-group relationship between it and the monophyletic glyptosternoids cannot be rejected.
It has been proposed to move the genera of Erethistidae
Erethistidae
Erethistidae are a family of catfishes that originate from southern Asia.-Taxonomy:This family includes species previously placed in Sisoridae. They were removed because they were thought to be more closely related to the neotropical Aspredinidae than to the remaining sisorids due to a number of...
into Sisoridae.
Distribution
Sisorids inhabit freshwater and originate from southern AsiaAsia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
, from Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
and Syria
Syria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
to South China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
and Borneo
Borneo
Borneo is the third largest island in the world and is located north of Java Island, Indonesia, at the geographic centre of Maritime Southeast Asia....
, primarily in the Oriental region. Glyptosterninae is distributed from the Caucasus
Caucasus
The Caucasus, also Caucas or Caucasia , is a geopolitical region at the border of Europe and Asia, and situated between the Black and the Caspian sea...
to China. Most glyptosternine genera are found in China, with the exception of Myersglanis. Glyptosternoid catfish species have restricted distributions, and many apparently wide-ranging species have been shown to consist of more than one species, each with restricted distributions. Sisorids are mostly small forms inhabit mountain streams.
Fossil record and biogeography
The oldest known sisorid fossil is B. bagarius found in Sumatra and India of the PliocenePliocene
The Pliocene Epoch is the period in the geologic timescale that extends from 5.332 million to 2.588 million years before present. It is the second and youngest epoch of the Neogene Period in the Cenozoic Era. The Pliocene follows the Miocene Epoch and is followed by the Pleistocene Epoch...
. The origin of glyptosternoid fishes could be in the later Pliocene. Another study proposes glyptosternoids possibly originated in the Oligocene
Oligocene
The Oligocene is a geologic epoch of the Paleogene Period and extends from about 34 million to 23 million years before the present . As with other older geologic periods, the rock beds that define the period are well identified but the exact dates of the start and end of the period are slightly...
-Miocene
Miocene
The Miocene is a geological epoch of the Neogene Period and extends from about . The Miocene was named by Sir Charles Lyell. Its name comes from the Greek words and and means "less recent" because it has 18% fewer modern sea invertebrates than the Pliocene. The Miocene follows the Oligocene...
boundary (19–24 Mya) and radiated from the Miocene to Pleistocene
Pleistocene
The Pleistocene is the epoch from 2,588,000 to 11,700 years BP that spans the world's recent period of repeated glaciations. The name pleistocene is derived from the Greek and ....
along with several rapid speciation events in a relatively short time. The three great uplifts of the Qinghai
Qinghai
Qinghai ; Oirat Mongolian: ; ; Salar:) is a province of the People's Republic of China, named after Qinghai Lake...
/Tibet
Tibet
Tibet is a plateau region in Asia, north-east of the Himalayas. It is the traditional homeland of the Tibetan people as well as some other ethnic groups such as Monpas, Qiang, and Lhobas, and is now also inhabited by considerable numbers of Han and Hui people...
Plateau
Plateau
In geology and earth science, a plateau , also called a high plain or tableland, is an area of highland, usually consisting of relatively flat terrain. A highly eroded plateau is called a dissected plateau...
destroyed the pattern of river systems in the late Pliocene to the early Pleistocene. The ancestor of Euchiloglanis originated from the allied Glyptosternon in the second uplift and Pareuchiloglanis, Pseudexostoma, Oreoglanis, Exostoma, and Glaridoglanis originated with the third uplift. The Exostoma group (Exostoma, Pseudexostoma, and Oreoglanis) originated after the outline of the Qinghai/Tibet Plateau was formed. The speciation of this group was not strong and the distribution limited.
Description
Most of these fish have four pairs of barbels and a large adipose fin. The maximum size is 2 metres. In all fish except those of the subfamily Sisorinae, some sort of adhesive apparatus, either in the form of a thoracic adhesive apparatus or in plaitPlait
A plait may refer to:* Plait, also called a braid, intertwined strands of, for example, textile or hair* Plait, now called a pleat, a fold of fabric, used in clothing and upholstery* Plait , a fold in the columella of a gastropod mollusc...
ed paired fins, allow the fish to adhere to objects.