Denticetopsis | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Actinopterygii |
Order: | Siluriformes |
Family: | Cetopsidae |
Subfamily: | Cetopsinae |
Genus: |
Denticetopsis Ferraris, 1996 |
Type species | |
Denticetopsis sauli Ferraris, 1996 |
Denticetopsis is a genus of catfishes (order Siluriformes) of the family Cetopsidae.
Originally Denticetopsis as described by Ferraris in 1996 was restricted to two species, D. royeroi and D. sauli. These two species have proved to be a subunit of a larger clade that also includes two species previously assigned to the now invalid genus Pseudocetopsis (D. macilenta, D. praecox), together with three species described as new in 2005 (D. epa, D. iwokrama, D. seducta).
There are currently seven recognized species in this genus:
Denticetopsis species are distributed in northern South America where they are found distributed between Venezuela, Guyana and Brazil.
Denticetopsis can be distinguished from other genera of Cetopsinae by a number of characteristics. The margin of the caudal fin is either shallowly forked and symmetrical or obliquely truncate. The outer most rays are no more than one and one-half times the length of the inner most rays; in other genera of Cetopsinae, these rays are one and three-quarters to two times the length of the innermost rays. The medial most pelvic-fin ray has a membranous attachment to the body for the basal third to fourth of its length instead of the basal-most half of its length.
The possession of a first pectoral-fin ray that is spinous for the basal one-half of its length further separates Denticetopsis from Cetopsis and Paracetopsis, both of which lack a spinous first pectoral-fin ray. Denticetopsis is further distinguished from Cetopsidium in the lack of the dorsal-spine locking mechanism and in the having a lateral line extending either only onto the abdomen or distinctly further posteriorly onto the caudal peduncle, instead of terminating above the base of the anal fin.