Brochiloricaria

Brochiloricaria
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Siluriformes
Family: Loricariidae
Tribe: Loricariini
Genus: Brochiloricaria
Isbrücker & Nijssen, 1979
Type species
Brochiloricaria chauliodon

Brochiloricaria is a small genus of armored catfishes native to South America.

Species

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There are currently two recognized species in this genus:[1]

Appearance and anatomy

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Brochiloricaria is morphologically very similar to Loricaria and can be distinguished from the latter only by its teeth characteristics; in Brochiloricaria, the teeth are very long and of equal size on both jaws, while in Loricaria the premaxillary teeth are almost two times longer than dentary teeth.[2] However, dentition may not be a reliable characteristic to differentiate to genera, so Brochiloricaria may actually be a synonym of Loricaria.[2]

Both species of Brochiloricaria reach almost 30 centimetres (12 in) in length.[1]

Ecology

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Brochiloricaria is an abdomino-lip brooder.[2]

References

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  1. ^ a b Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Species in genus Brochiloricaria". FishBase. December 2011 version.
  2. ^ a b c Covain, Raphael; Fisch-Muller, Sonia (2007). "The genera of the Neotropical armored catfish subfamily Loricariinae (Siluriformes: Loricariidae): a practical key and synopsis" (PDF). Zootaxa. 1462: 1–40. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.1462.1.1.