Diplomystidae

The primitive catfishes ( Diplomystidae ) are a family of fish from the order of catfish -like ( Siluriformes ). They occur in Chile and Argentina in freshwater.

Primitive catfish are medium sized fish with up to 32 centimeters in body length. The upper jaw bone is well developed and bears teeth. A pair of barbels sits on the upper jaw, otherwise no barbels are present. The dorsal fin has a hard - and six or seven soft rays. The anal fin has 9 to 12 primary rays, the caudal fin 18 The pectoral fins have a hard beam. An adipose fin is present. The Asteriscus is as large as or larger lapillus.

System

In the classical system, the primitive catfish are seen as the only family of the superfamily Diplomystoidea as the sister group of all other catfish -like. However, molecular biological studies indicate a position together with the subordination Siluroidei against the Loricarioidei.

The family are currently attributed to two genera with three species:

  • Diplomystes Diplomystes campo sensis
  • Diplomystes chilensis
  • Diplomystes nahuelbutaensis
  • Olivaichthys cuyanus
  • Olivaichthys mesembrinus
  • Olivaichthys viedmensis

Swell

  • Joseph S. Nelson: Fishes of the world. 4 edition. John Wiley & Sons, Hoboken 2006, ISBN 978-0-471-25031-9, p.164
  • Primitive catfish on Fishbase.org (English)
Taxonomic rank#All ranks Ostariophysi Fish fin Otolith Digital Object Identifier
290586
de