Sturisoma Explained

Sturisoma is a genus of armored catfishes native to Central and South America.

Taxonomy

Sturisoma has been shown to be sister to Farlowella.

Species

There are currently 12 recognized species in this genus:

• Sturisoma barbatum (Kner, 1853)
• Sturisoma brevirostre (C. H. Eigenmann & R. S. Eigenmann, 1889)
• Sturisoma caquetae (Henry Weed Fowler, 1945)
• Sturisoma graffini Alejandro Londoño-Burbano, 2018
• Sturisoma guentheri (Regan, 1904)
• Sturisoma lyra (Regan, 1904)
• Sturisoma monopelte Fowler, 1914
• Sturisoma nigrirostrum Fowler, 1940
• Sturisoma reisi Londoño-Burbano & Britto, 2022^[1]
• Sturisoma robustum (Regan, 1904)
• Sturisoma rostratum (Spix & Agassiz, 1829)
• Sturisoma tenuirostre (Steindachner, 1910)

Distribution

The species of the genus Sturisoma are widely distributed on both slopes of the Andes, in Panama and Colombia, and in the Amazon, Orinoco, and Paraná River basins.^[2]

Description

Sexual dimorphism includes hypertrophied odontodes on the sides of the head of the male.^[2]

Ecology

Sturisoma inhabit gently to swiftly flowing white waters where submerged wood is abundant in the main flow of rivers.^[2] Sturisoma species are open brooders.^[2]

References

1. Londoño-Burbano, Alejandro & Britto, Marcelo. (2022). A new species of Sturisoma Swainson, 1838 (Loricariidae: Loricariinae) from the Madeira River basin, with a discussion of historical biogeography of western Amazonas and Paraguay River basins. Journal of fish biology. 102. 10.1111/jfb.15251.
2. The genera of the Neotropical armored catfish subfamily Loricariinae (Siluriformes: Loricariidae): a practical key and synopsis. Raphael. Covain. Fisch-Muller, Sonia . Zootaxa. 1462. 1–40. 2007. 10.11646/zootaxa.1462.1.1 .