Bedotiidae

Bedotia sp.

The Bedotiidae are endemic to Madagascar family of ears Fishy ( Siluriformes ). They live in fresh water of small and medium rivers and occasionally in stagnant water and swamps. The family includes two genera Bedotia and Rheocles with 14 described species, as retaining some undescribed species whose species status has already been verified as valid.

In their natural habitat, the shaded Bedotiidae feed many of terrestrial insects that fall into the water. Has a deforestation in the wetlands therefore rapidly the decline in populations. Other hazards result from the onset of non-native fish species.

Scientific classification

Several recent studies show that the Bedotiidae belong to the immediate relatives of the Melanotaeniidae that occur, however, only in Australia and New Guinea (see rainbow fish). The fact that two types of Bedotiidae as well as several representatives of the Cichlidae are also found in brackish water, has led to the assumption that both families descended from a common marine ancestor. A more recent theory suggests, however, that such hypothetical common ancestor could have been just as freshwater fish. Only after the collapse of the supercontinent Gondwana today's families were separated geographically so far apart. Some parts of the supercontinent such as Madagascar, India and Australia could in this case be stayed together even after the separation of Africa until well into the Cretaceous.

The first efforts, this close relationship with Malagasy and Australian rainbow fish into account, led to an integration of Bedotiidae as subfamily Bedotiinae in the Cichlidae. However, a newer system proposes the establishment of a subordination of the ears Fishy called Melanotaenioidei ( Rainbow Fish relatives) before. In this group the Bedotiidae, the Cichlidae, the Pseudomugilidae ( blue eyes) and the Telmatherinidae ( sun rays or Sulawesi fish Rainbow fish) are summarized.

Genera and species

• Bedotia Bedotia albomarginata Sparks & Rush, 2005
• Bedotia alveyi Johnes, Smith & Sparks, 2010
• Bedotia geayi Pellegrin, 1907
• Bedotia leucopteron Loiselle & Rodriguez, 2007
• Bedotia longianalis Pellegrin, 1914
• Bedotia madagascariensis Regan, 1903
• Bedotia Marojejy Stiassny & Harrison, 2000
• Bedotia masoala Sparks, 2001
• Bedotia tricolor Pellegrin, 1932

• Rheocles alaotrensis
• Rheocles derhami
• Rheocles lateralis
• Rheocles pellegrini
• Rheocles sikorae
• Rheocles vatosoa
• Rheocles wrightae