Erethistidae Explained

Erethistidae are a family of catfishes that originate from southern Asia. It includes about 45 species.

Taxonomy

This family includes species previously placed in Sisoridae.[1] 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 morphological characters.[2] However, it has been suggested that the erethistid catfishes be included back into Sisoridae and some genera are included in that family by some authorities.[3]

Distribution

Erethistids are found on the Indian subcontinent eastwards to western Thailand and northern Malay Peninsula.[4]

Description

Many of the members of this family are small, cryptically colored fish with tuberculate skin.[4] Erethistids are distinguished from sisorids by having a pectoral girdle with a long coracoid process that extends well beyond the base of the pectoral fin; this structure can be felt through the skin in all genera and is visible externally in all genera except Pseudolaguvia. Erethistids differ from amblicipitids in that they lack a cuplike fold of skin in front of the pectoral fin (vs. possessing the cuplike fold) and have a dorsal fin with a strong spine and no thick covering of skin (vs. a weak spine with a thick covering of skin). Erethistids have nostrils close together, separated by a nasal barbel, which differs from akysids which have widely separated nostrils on each side of the head with a barbel on the posterior nostril.[5] Some erethistids possess a thoracic adhesive apparatus formed by longitudinal skin folds densely covered with unculi that appears to be an adaptation to life in fast-flowing waters; this closely resembles a similar structure in the sisorid Glyptothorax.[6]

Notes and References

  1. Book: Nelson, Joseph S.. Fishes of the World. John Wiley & Sons, Inc.. 2006. 0-471-25031-7.
  2. R.. Diogo. Chardon, M. . Vandewalle, P. . 2003. Osteology and myology of the cephalic region and pectoral girdle of Erethistes pusillus, comparison with other erethistids, and comments on the synapomorphies and phylogenetic relationships of the Erethistidae (Teleostei: Siluriformes). Journal of Fish Biology. 63. 5. 1160–1175. 10.1046/j.1095-8649.2003.00235.x.
  3. Checklist of catfishes, recent and fossil (Osteichthyes: Siluriformes), and catalogue of siluriform primary types. Carl J. Jr.. Ferraris. Zootaxa. 1418. 1–628. 2007. PDF. 2009-06-25.
  4. Conta pectinata, a new erethistid catfish (Teleostei: Erethistidae) from northeast India. Heok Hee. Ng. Ichthyol. Explor. Freshwaters. 16. 1. 23–28. March 2005. PDF. 2009-06-25.
  5. Genera of the Asian Catfish Families Sisoridae and Erethistidae (Teleostei: Siluriformes). Alfred W.. Thomson. Page, Lawrence M.. Zootaxa. 1345. 1–96. 2006. PDF. 2009-06-25.
  6. A new species of the Asian catfish genus Pseudolaguvia from Myanmar (Teleostei: Ostariophysi: Siluriformes: Erethistidae). Ralf. Britzi. Ferraris, Carl J. Jr.. Zootaxa. 388. 1–8. 2003. PDF. 2009-06-25.