Phreatobius sanguijuela
Phreatobius sanguijuela | |
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Actinopterygii |
Order: | Siluriformes |
Family: | Heptapteridae |
Genus: | Phreatobius |
Species: | P. sanguijuela
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Binomial name | |
Phreatobius sanguijuela |
Phreatobius sanguijuela is a South American species of heptapterid catfish that lives in underground waters.[1]
Description
[edit]This small fish reaches a maximum standard length of 4.2 cm (1.7 in).[1] P. sanguijuela differs from P. cisternarum in a number of ways, but the main differences are the absence of eyes (which are present in P. cisternarum).[1]
Distribution, habitat, and ecology
[edit]This species was first discovered in a hand-dug well located within the Paragúa River drainage, a tributary of the Guaporé (Iténez) River in Bolivia.[1] Later it was discovered just across the border in several wells near São Francisco do Guaporé in the Brazilian state of Rondônia.[2] This species is threatened by environmental degradation due to pollution, water extraction for drinking and irrigation, mineral extraction, and associated erosion.[1] It is often killed when accidentally caught from wells because of a superficial resemblance to leeches.[1]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f Fernandez, Luis; Saucedo, Lisandro J.; Carvajal-Vallejos, Fernando M.; Schaefer, Scott A. (2007). "A new phreatic catfish of the genus Phreatobius Goeldi 1905 from groundwaters of the Iténez River, Bolivia (Siluriformes: Heptapteridae)". Zootaxa. 1626: 51–58. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.1626.1.4.
- ^ Ohara, W.M.; I.D. Da Costa; M.L. Fonseca (2016). "Behavioiur, feeding habits and ecology of the blind catfish Phreatobius sanguijuela (Ostariophysi: Siluriformes)". Journal of Fish Biology. 89 (2): 1285–1301. Bibcode:2016JFBio..89.1285O. doi:10.1111/jfb.13037. PMID 27329067.