Astroblepus is a
genus of
fish in the
familyAstroblepidae found in
South America and
Panama. This genus is the only member of its family.[1] These catfishes are primarily found in torrential streams in the
Andean area.[1]Astroblepus pholeter and A. riberae are
troglobites adapted to living in subterranean water systems.[2] These
species are typically small, less than 10 cm (4 in).[1] The largest species reaches 30 cm (1 ft).[1] These fish have
suckermouths like those of
loricariids. They have two pairs of
barbels, maxillary and nasal. The
dorsal fin spine lacks a locking mechanism.[3] These fish also have
odontodes, tiny teeth on their skin. All species exhibit a conical, pointy type on their
fin rays like that found in other
loricarioids; other species also exhibit a blunt type that is only found on their
skin.[3]
Some of these fish are able to live in high
altitude and climb the faces of waterfalls.[3] Their climbing ability comes from specially developed
pelvic fins, as well as their suckermouths.[3] In their
Neotropical Andean habitat, dry and wet seasons are quite extreme, and odontodes may help in sensing food, mates and water flow, as well as help cling to surfaces.[3] They feed upon invertebrates, such as
caterpillars and
annelids.[3]
^Romero, A. (2001). The biology of hypogean fishes. Developments in Environmental Biology of Fishes. Springer Netherlands. p. 376.
ISBN978-1-4020-0076-8.
^
abcdefSchaefer, S.A.; Buitrago-Suárez, U.A. (2002). "Odontode morphology and skin surface features of Andean astroblepid catfishes (Siluriformes, Astroblepidae)". Journal of Morphology. 254 (2): 139–148.
doi:
10.1002/jmor.10024.
PMID12353298.
S2CID27019672.
^Diogo, Rui (2004-11-01). "Phylogeny, origin and biogeography of catfishes: support for a Pangean origin of 'modern teleosts' and reexamination of some Mesozoic Pangean connections between the Gondwanan and Laurasian supercontinents". Animal Biology. 54 (4): 331–351.
doi:
10.1163/1570756042729546.
ISSN1570-7563.
^Sullivan, John P.; Lundberg, John G.; Hardman, Michael (2006). "A phylogenetic analysis of the major groups of catfishes (Teleostei: Siluriformes) using rag1 and rag2 nuclear gene sequences". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 41 (3): 636–662.
doi:
10.1016/j.ympev.2006.05.044.
PMID16876440.
^
abArdila Rodríguez, C.A. (2011): Astroblepus itae, Astroblepus acostai. Dos nuevas especies del Río Cáchira y Río Sinú, Colombia. Universidad Metropolitana de Barranquilla. Barranquilla, Colombia. 16 pp.
^Ardila Rodríguez, C.A. (2012): Astroblepus ardilai sp. nov. Una nuevas especie de pez del los Andes del Municipio de Floridablanca, Departamento de Norte de Santander – Colombia. Peces del Departamento de Santander – Colombia, 5: 1-21.
^Ardila Rodríguez, C.A. (2011). "Astroblepus cacharas (Teleostei: Siluriformes: Astroblepidae), nueva especie del río Cáchira, cuenca del río Magdalena, Colombia". Dahlia. 11: 23–33.
^
abcdArdila Rodríguez, C.A. (2013): Astroblepus hidalgoi – A. floridaensis – A. huallagaensis y A. cajamarcaensis: Cuatro nuevas especies de los Andes del Peru. Universidad Metropolitana de Barranquilla. Barranquilla, Colombia. 22pp.
^
abcArdila Rodríguez, C.A. (2014): Astroblepus tamboensis – A. chinchaoensis y A. moyanensis: Tres nuevas especies de los Andes del Peru. Universidad Metropolitana de Barranquilla. Barranquilla, Colombia. 22pp.
^
abcdArdila Rodríguez, C.A. (2015): Astroblepus verai sp. nov. – A. pradai, A. curitiensis y A. onzagaensis. Cuatro nuevas especies del Departamento de Santander – Colombia. Barranquilla, Departamento del Atlántico, 2015 (7): 1-24.
^Ardila Rodríguez, C.A. (2016): Astroblepus floridablancaensis sp. nov. una nueva Especie de Janbonero (Siluriformes: Astroblepidae) del Municipio de Floridablanca, Departamento de Santander – Colombia. Peces del Departamento de Santander – Colombia, 8: 1-20.
^
abArdila Rodríguez, C.A. (2013): Astroblepus martinezi y Astroblepus jimenezae: Dos nuevas especies del Río Sinú y Río Atrato, Colombia. Universidad Metropolitana de Barranquilla. Barranquilla, Colombia. 20pp.
^Ardila Rodríguez, C.A. (2014): Astroblepus mendezi sp. nov. una nueva especie de pez de Panamá. Universidad Metropolitana de Barranquilla. Barranquilla, Colombia. 17pp.
^
abArdila Rodríguez, C.A. (2012): Astroblepus ortegai y Astroblepus quispei. Dos nuevas especies des los Andes del Perú. Universidad Metropolitana de Barranquilla. Barranquilla, Colombia. 16 pp.