The genera of the Neotropical armored catfish subfamily Loricariinae (Siluriformes: Loricariidae): a practical key and synopsis.
Author
Raphael Covain
Author
Sonia Fisch-Muller
text
Zootaxa
2007
1462
1
40
http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:D1F13841-BD7B-4D00-B57D-9CBEC187B83C
journal article
z01462p001
D1F13841-BD7B-4D00-B57D-9CBEC187B83C
Pseudohemiodon Bleeker, 1862
.
Type species:
Hemiodon platycephalus Kner, 1853
.
Holotype
: lost (
Isbruecker
1971),
Brazil
,
Rio Cuiaba
.
Gender: masculine.
Pseudohemiodon
is distributed in the Amazon and
Parana
River basins. This genus is also known from the Orinoco system. Like other members of the
Pseudohemiodon
group,
Pseudohemiodon
occurs primarily over sandy substrates. This ecological specialization is reflected by the dramatic dorsoventral compression of the body and pelvic fins that are used mainly for locomotion on sand. Sexual dimorphism is unknown, but like the other genera in this group,
Pseudohemiodon
species are abdomino-lip brooders (pers. obs.). The very large eggs are incubated by the male. Considering their ecological and morphological specialization, representatives of the
Pseudohemiodon
group may represent highly derived
Loricariinae
. This is in agreement with Rapp Py-Daniel (1997), who found
Planiloricariina
nested within
Loricariini
, as sister group of
Loricaria
. Seven species are currently recognized (Ferraris 2003). A partial key to the species is available in
Isbruecker
(1975).