Rhamphichthyidae

Sand knifefish are freshwater electric fish of the family Rhamphichthyidae, from freshwater habitats in South America.[1]

Sand knifefish
Rhamphichthys marmoratus
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Chordata
Class:
Actinopterygii
Order:
Gymnotiformes
Suborder:
Sternopygoidei
Superfamily:
Rhamphichthyoidea
Family:
Rhamphichthyidae
Genera

See text

Just like most part of the members of the Gymnotiformes group, they also have elongated and compressed bodies and electric organs. The long anal fin actually extends from before the pectoral fins to the tip of the tail. There is no dorsal fin.[1] Teeth are absent in the oral jaws and the snout is very long and tubular. The nostrils are very close together. This group is sometimes known as the tubesnout knifefishes for this reason.[2]

They are nocturnal and burrow in the sand during the day.[1]

Genera

According to FishBase there are only three genera in this family,[1] but a comprehensive molecular study from 2015 showed that two additional genera belong here (formerly in Hypopomidae, marked with stars* in list),[3] and this has been followed by recent authorities.[4][5][6]

See also

References
  1. Froese, Rainer, and Daniel Pauly, eds. (2011). "Rhamphichthyidae" in FishBase. December 2011 version.
  2. Nelson, Joseph, S. (2006). Fishes of the World. John Wiley & Sons, Inc. ISBN 0-471-25031-7.
  3. Tagliacollo, V.A.; Bernt, M.J.; Craig, J.M.; Oliviera, C.; Albert, J.S. (2015). "Model-based Total Evidence phylogeny of Neotropical electric knifefishes (Teleostei, Gymnotiformes)". Mol Phylogenet Evol. 95: 20–33. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2015.11.007. PMID 26616344.
  4. Ferraris Jr, C.J.; C.D. de Santana; R.P. Vari (2017). "Checklist of Gymnotiformes (Osteichthyes: Ostariophysi) and catalogue of primary types". Neotrop. Ichthyol. 15 (1). doi:10.1590/1982-0224-20160067.
  5. van der Sleen, P.; J.S. Albert, eds. (2017). Field Guide to the Fishes of the Amazon, Orinoco, and Guianas. Princeton University Press. pp. 337–341. ISBN 978-0691170749.
  6. Eschmeyer, W.N.; R. Fricke; R. van der Laan (12 May 2018). "Catalog of Fishes". California Academy of Sciences. Retrieved 12 May 2018.


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