.

MundoAndino Home : Argentina Guide at MundoAndino

Xyliphius


Xyliphius is a genus of catfishes (order Siluriformes) of the family Aspredinidae. It includes six species.

This genus appears to be widespread in the Magdalena, Orinoco, Amazon, and Paraguay-Parana River systems. X. barbatus originates from the Paraguay-Parana River basin and X. lombarderoi from the Parana River basin in Argentina. X. kryptos occurs in the Lake Maracaibo basin. X. lepturus is known from the upper Amazon and Orinoco River basins of Colombia, Ecuador and Venezuela. X. magdalenae inhabits the Magdalena River basin in Colombia. X. melanopterus is distributed in the upper Amazon and Orinoco River basins. These fishes are most common in deeper waters.

Xyliphius includes moderately sized aspredinids, ranging from 8.8–14.7 centimetres SL. Species of this genus are distinguished from all other aspredinids by having highly reduced eyes, toothless premaxillae, a row of fleshy papillae projecting anteriorly off the lower lip, flattened unculi and unculiferous tubercles flattened. These species also have the openings of the anterior nares with papillae and no dark saddles on the body.

Didn't find what you were looking for.
Need more information for your travel research or homework?
Ask your questions at the forum about Fauna of Argentina or help others to find answers.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article Xyliphius


Disclaimer - Privacy Policy - 2009