Sturisomatichthys | |
---|---|
![]() |
|
Sturisomatichthys leightoni | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Actinopterygii |
Order: | Siluriformes |
Family: | Loricariidae |
Subfamily: | Loricariinae |
Tribe: | Harttiini |
Genus: |
Sturisomatichthys Isbrücker & Nijssen, 1979 |
Type species | |
Oxyloricaria leightoni Regan, 1912 |
Sturisomatichthys is a genus of armored catfishes native to Central and South America.
There are currently four recognized species in this genus:
The genus Sturisomatichthys is distributed in the northwestern part of South America, on the Pacific and Atlantic slopes of the Andes. The species appear to occupy the same ecological niche as those in Sturisoma.
Sexual dimorphism and reproductive biology of Sturisomatichthys similar to Sturisoma. Sturisomatichthys is distinguished from Sturisoma primarily by the absence of a rostrum. Only one species, S. citurensis, from Panama, seems to be significantly different from all congeneric species in having an abdominal plate cover consisting of small platelets without any particular organization. Other species may represent a species complex with a short snout as in the genus Farlowella with reference to the representatives of the F. curtirostra group. The weakness of this diagnostic feature could lead to the synonymy of Sturisomatichthys with Sturisoma.Sturisomatichthys species grow to about 18–25 centimetres (7.1–9.8 inches) in length.