Vaillantella

The Langflossenschmerlen ( Vaillantella ) are a genus of Schmerlenartigen ( Cobitoidea ) and the only genus of the order monotypic family Vaillantellidae. The fish live in rivers on the Malay Peninsula, Sumatra and Kalimantan.

Features

The Vaillantella species are morphologically unusual Schmerlenartigen. Similar to about twelve inches long expectant freshwater fish, with its elongated shape, the mandrel eyes ( Pangio ), but have an unusually long dorsal fin (name ), which is supported 53-73 branched fin rays. The largest number of dorsal fin rays another Schmerlenartigen found in Enobarbus maculatus, which has 28 fin rays. In Vaillantella the dorsal fin begins in the first third of the body and extends to the tail fin. The lateral line is complete, the tail fin, forked like the clown loaches.

System

The systematic position of the Langflossenschmerlen has long been controversial. They were alternately allocated to Bachschmerlen, the clown loaches or the "true" loaches. In letzgenanntem case, even within its own subfamily ( Vaillantellinae ).

Lately, they are based on molecular genetic studies as a sister group of the clade from Steinbeißern ( Cobitidae ), fins and suckers ( Balitoridae ), " Störmäulern " ( Ellopostomatidae ) and Bachschmerlen ( Nemacheilidae ) found even in their own family (now Vaillantellidae ).

The systematic position illustrated by the following cladogram (after Bohlen & Šlechtová, 2009 and Chen et al, 2009. )

? Redhorse ( Catostomidae )

? Redhorse ( Catostomidae )

Sucking loaches ( Gyrinocheilidae )

Loaches ( Botiidae )

Langflossenschmerlen ( Vaillantellidae )

Loach loach or sensu stricto ( Cobitidae )

Fins suckers ( Balitoridae )

" Störmäuler " ( Ellopostomatidae )

Bachschmerlen ( Nemacheilidae )

Carp fish ( Cyprinoidea )

Species

There are three types, the first two of which are known only by one or three finds.

• Vaillantella cinnamomea
• Vaillantella euepiptera
• Vaillantella maassi