Review of the Andean armored catfishes of the Genus Dolichancistrus Isbrücker (Siluriformes: Loricariidae)

[L172]

Review of the Andean armored catfishes of the genus Dolichancistrus Isbrücker (Siluriformes: Loricariidae)

Gustavo A. Ballen and Richard P. Vari

The loricariid catfish genus Dolichancistrus is reviewed and four species recognized. Species of Dolichancistrus are distinguished from each other by the degree of development of the pectoral-fin spine, the form of the distal margin of the pelvic fin, the relative size and form of the cheek plates, the pattern of odontodes along the margin of the snout, the presence versus absence of a buccal papilla at the premaxillary symphysis, and the relative lengths of the anal- versus pelvic-spines. Dolichancistrus atratoensis is known from the rÃ*o Atrato system and the rÃ*o Cubarradó on the Pacific versant of Colombia; D. carnegiei occurs in the eastern rÃ*o Magdalena basin in the departments of Boyacá and Santander, Colombia; D. cobrensis inhabits southern tributaries of the Lago Maracaibo basin in Colombia and Venezuela along with some highland rivers of the Cordillera de Mérida in Venezuela draining into the rÃ*o Orinoco system; and D. fuesslii is known from the Andean piedmont portions of the rÃ*o Meta basin in the western rÃ*o Orinoco system. Pseudancistrus pediculatus is considered a junior synonym of Ancistrus fuesslii. Chaetostomus setosus previously assigned to Dolichancistrus, was found to lack features characteristic of its putative congeners and is rather more closely related to other members of Chaetostoma group. Consequently, the species is herein considered as incertae sedis within that group. Dolichancistrus is diagnosed, a key is provided to the members of the genus, and diagnoses and redescriptions are provided for all of the recognized species.

https://www.ufrgs.br/ni/vol10n3/v10n3a03.pdf

Grüße,
Christian