Scleromystax is a genus of fish in the family Callichthyidae endemic to small tributaries from several coastal river basins draining the southern and southeastern regions in Brazil.[1] Most of the species of Scleromystax are highly sexually dimorphic; males have developed odontodes inserted in fleshy papillae on the preopercular-opercular region and the dorsal and pectoral fins are 2–3 times as long as those of females.[1] S. salmacis is an exception, as its sexually dimorphic features are subtle and non-remarkable.
| Scleromystax | |
|---|---|
| |
| Scleromystax barbatus | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Siluriformes |
| Family: | Callichthyidae |
| Subfamily: | Corydoradinae |
| Genus: | Scleromystax Günther, 1864 |
| Type species | |
| Callichthys barbatus Quoy & Gaimard, 1824
| |
Taxonomy edit
The species of Scleromystax were previously classified within the genus Corydoras. However, Scleromystax species are now thought to be more closely related to Aspidoras in a tribe called Aspidoradini.[2] Although the monophyly of Scleromystax has been demonstrated, phylogenetic relationships of its species remains obscure. In addition, the taxonomic status of its species are only partially resolved.[1]
Species edit
There are currently 5 recognized species in this genus:
- Scleromystax barbatus (Quoy & Gaimard, 1824)
- Scleromystax macropterus (Regan, 1913)
- Scleromystax prionotos (Nijssen & Isbrücker, 1980)
- Scleromystax reisi M. R. Britto, Fukakusa & L. R. Malabarba, 2016 [3]
- Scleromystax salmacis M. R. Britto & R. E. dos Reis, 2005
References edit
- ^ a b c Britto, M.R. & Reis, R.E. (2005): A new Scleromystax species (Siluriformes: Callichthyidae) from coastal rivers of Southern Brazil. Neotropical Ichthyology, 3 (4): 481–488.
- ^ Britto, M.R. (2003): Phylogeny of the subfamily Corydoradinae Hoedeman, 1952 (Siluriformes: Callichthyidae), with a definition of its genera. Archived 2007-09-28 at the Wayback Machine Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, 153 (1): 119–154.
- ^ Britto, M.R., Fukakusa, C.K. & Malabarba, L.R. (2016): New species of Scleromystax Günther, 1864 (Siluriformes: Callichthyidae) - extending the meridional distribution of genera endemic to the Atlantic Forest. Neotropical Ichthyology, 14 (3): e150158.