Hypostominae
Hypostomus plecostomus
The Hypostominae, often called the German signs catfish, with over 370 described species, the richest of the six subfamilies of armored catfish ( Loricariidae ). They are found throughout the northern and central South America, Trinidad, Panama and Costa Rica.
Features
The types of Hypostominae have a typical pleco shape with an elongated, flattened body and a flat, provided with a suction mouth under constant head. Their body length ranges from a few centimeters up to a length of over one meter. Autapomorphies that diagnose the subfamily, are the powerful, cross-sectionally V -shaped spike at the beginning of the dorsal fin, as well as a mechanism to block this fin spine in an upright position. In each jaw sits a number bicuspid or spoon -shaped teeth. Coracoid and Cleithrum, elements of the shoulder girdle are not widened, the tail fins stick is only moderately long, nearly cylindrical and only slightly flattened.
Outer systematics
The Hypostominae are in the crown group of the Loricariidae and are the sister group of the Loricariinae. The systematic position illustrated by the following cladogram:
Hypostominae
Loricariinae
Neoplecostominae incl Hypoptopomatinae
Lithogeninae
Inside systematics
Ancistrini
Pterygoplichthini
Hypostomini
Corymbophanini
The subfamily Hypostominae is divided into five tribes, of which the Ancistrini is by far the genus- and species- richest:
- Tribus Ancistrini Acanthicus Agassiz, 1829
- Ancistrus Kner, 1854
- Baryancistrus Rapp Py -Daniel, 1989
- Chaetostoma Tschudi, 1846
- Cordylancistrus Isbrücker, 1980
- Dekeyseria Rapp Py -Daniel, 1985
- Dolichancistrus Isbrücker, 1980
- Exastilithoxus Isbrücker & Nijssen, 1979
- Hemiancistrus Bleeker, 1862
- Hopliancistrus Isbrücker & Nijssen, 1989
- Hypancistrus Isbrücker & Nijssen, 1991
- Lasiancistrus Regan, 1904
- Leptoancistrus Meek & Hildebrand, 1916
- Leporacanthicus Isbrücker & Nijssen, 1989
- Lithoxus Eigenmann, 1910
- Megalancistrus Isbrücker, 1980
- Neblinichthys Ferraris, Isbrücker & Nijssen, 1986
- Panaque Eigenmann & Eigenmann, 1889
- Parancistrus Bleeker, 1862
- Peckoltia Miranda Ribeiro, 1912
- Pseudacanthicus Bleeker, 1862
- Pseudancistrus Bleeker, 1862
- Pseudolithoxus Isbrücker & Werner, 2001
- Scobinancistrus Isbrücker & Nijssen, 1989
- Spectracanthicus Nijssen & Isbrücker, 1987
- Corymbophanes Eigenmann, 1909
- Aphanotorulus Isbrücker & Nijssen, 1983
- Hypostomus Lacepede, 1803
- Isorineloricaria Isbrücker, 1980
- Squaliforma Isbrücker & Michels, 2001
- Hemiancistrus Bleeker, 1862
- Pterygoplichthys Gill, 1858
- Rhinelepis Agassiz, 1829
- Pogonopoma Regan, 1904
- Pseudorhinelepis Bleeker, 1862