''Ernstichthys'' is a
genus
Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...
of
banjo catfish
The Aspredinidae are a small South American family of catfishes ( order Siluriformes) also known as the banjo catfishes, with about 43 species.
Distribution
Aspredinids are found throughout the major tropical rivers of South America (e.g., Magd ...
es that occurs in the
Amazon
Amazon most often refers to:
* Amazons, a tribe of female warriors in Greek mythology
* Amazon rainforest, a rainforest covering most of the Amazon basin
* Amazon River, in South America
* Amazon (company), an American multinational technology c ...
and
Orinoco
The Orinoco () is one of the longest rivers in South America at . Its drainage basin, sometimes known as the Orinoquia, covers , with 76.3 percent of it in Venezuela and the remainder in Colombia. It is the fourth largest river in the wor ...
basins.
The genus was named in honor of the Chair of Natural Science at the Central University of Venezuela biologist Adolfo (also spelled Adolf) Ernst (1832-1899).
''Ernstichthys'' species are small to medium-sized, armored aspredinids.
Members of this genus are distinguished from all other aspredinids by having two sets of paired pre-
anal-fin plates and a strongly recurved
pectoral
Pectoral may refer to:
* The chest region and anything relating to it.
* Pectoral cross, a cross worn on the chest
* a decorative, usually jeweled version of a gorget
* Pectoral (Ancient Egypt), a type of jewelry worn in ancient Egypt
* Pectoralis ...
spine that is much longer than first branched pectoral-fin ray.
Species
There are currently three described species in this genus:
* ''
Ernstichthys anduzei''
Fernández-Yépez, 1953
* ''
Ernstichthys intonsus''
D. J. Stewart, 1985
* ''
Ernstichthys megistus''
( Orcés-V. ( es), 1961)
References
External links
*
Aspredinidae
Taxa named by Augustín Fernández-Yépez
Fish of South America
Fish of the Amazon basin
Fauna of Ecuador
Fauna of Peru
Fish of Venezuela
Catfish genera
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