Epapterus, COPE, 1878

GENUS EPAPTERUS COPE, 1878 View in CoL (CLADE 101)

Epapterus Cope, 1878: 677 View in CoL (type species: Epapterus dispilurus Cope, 1878 View in CoL ; type by monotypy. Gender masculine).

Included species: Epapterus blohmi Vari, Jewett, Taphorn & Gilbert, 1984 View in CoL and Epapterus dispilurus Cope, 1878 View in CoL .

Diagnosis: Epapterus is diagnosed by 11 morphological synapomorphies. Exclusive: (1) two free pterygiophores on dorsal fin (char. 3775: 2 → 5); and (2) anal fin of nuptial males with space between modified anterior rays and remaining rays (char. 3745: 0 → 1). Non-exclusive: (3) adipose fin absent (char. 3493: 0 → 1), convergent in Trachelyichthys , Trachelyopterichthys and Trachelyopterus coriaceus ; (4) projection of the anterior cartilage on anterior margin of lateral ethmoid absent (char. 3547: 1 → 0), convergent in several auchenipterids; (5) posterior process of posttemporal–supracleithrum posterodorsally oriented (char. 3561: 0 → 1), convergent in several auchenipterids; (6) adductor crest of hyomandibula well developed (char. 3616: 0 → 1), convergent in Auchenipterichthys , Glanidium (except Glanidium sp.1 RS), Liosomadoras , Pseudauchenipterus jequitinhonhae, Trachelyopterina (except some species of Trachelyopterus ), Tatia boemia , Tatia sp. 4 and Tetranematichthys ; (7) levator operculi crest of hyomandibula absent (char. 3617: 1 → 0), convergent in several auchenipterids; (8) posterior projection of urohyal laminar (char. 3629: 0 → 1), convergent in Tympanopleura brevior , Tympanopleura cryptica , Pseudepapterus cucuhyensis and Tetranematichthys ; (9) posterior nuchal plate broad, having the same width or wider than the base of the dorsal-fin spine (char. 3673: 0 → 1), convergent in some auchenipterids; (10) extension on cartilage of lateral process of basipterygium short (char. 3727: 1 → 0), convergent in Entomocorus , Glanidium , Tetranematichthys , Trachelyichthys and Trachelyopterichthys ; and (11) caudal fin truncated (char. 3746: 0 → 1), convergent in Ageneiosus inermis , Ageneiosus vittatus , Tetranematichthys, Trachelyopterini and Liosomadoras .

Comparisons: Epapterus is a genus of small body-sized species, with distinctive features within the family related to the reduced dorsal fin and premaxilla and to the anal fin of nuptial males. Epapterus is diagnosed from remaining auchenipterids by nuptial males having the anal fin with a space between modified anterior rays and the remaining rays (vs. all anal-fin rays contiguous, without space between rays) and by having three soft, branched dorsal-fin rays (vs. four, five, six or seven). It is further distinguished from all auchenipterines, except Pseudepapterus , by the absence of premaxillary teeth (vs. premaxillary teeth present); except for Auchenipterus and Pseudepapterus , by having a thick continuous skin membrane joining the proximal half of the contralateral innermost pelvic-fin rays (vs. contralateral innermost pelvic-fin rays separated from each other); and, except for Trachelyichthys , Trachelyopterichthys and Trachelyopterus coriaceus , by the absence of an adipose fin (vs. adipose fin present). It differs from most auchenipterines, except Ageneiosus inermis , Ageneiosus vittatus , Tetranematichthys, Trachelyopterini and Liosomadoras , by the caudal fin being truncated (vs. caudal fin bifurcated) and, except for Asterophysus , Auchenipterus , Epapterus , Trachelyichthys and Trachelyopterichthys , by having the pectoral-fin girdle within the anterior half of the body length (vs. pectoral-fin girdle approximately at the halfway point of SL).

GENUS AUCHENIPTERUS VALENCIENNES, 1840 View in CoL (CLADE 102)

Auchenipterus Valenciennes View in CoL , in Cuvier & Valenciennes (1840): 207 (type species: Hypophthalmus nuchalis Spix & Agassiz, 1829 ; type by subsequent designation by Bleeker, 1862 (in Bleeker, 1862 –63): 15. Gender masculine).

Included species: Auchenipterus ambyiacus Fowler, 1915 View in CoL , Auchenipterus brachyurus ( Cope, 1878) View in CoL , Auchenipterus brevior Eigenmann, 1912 View in CoL , * Auchenipterus britskii Ferraris & Vari, 1999 View in CoL , Auchenipterus demerarae Eigenmann, 1912 View in CoL , Auchenipterus dentatus Valenciennes, 1840 View in CoL , Auchenipterus fordicei Eigenmann & Eigenmann, 1888 View in CoL , * Auchenipterus menezesi Ferraris & Vari, 1999 View in CoL , Auchenipterus nigripinnis ( Boulenger, 1895) View in CoL , Auchenipterus nuchalis ( Spix & Agassiz, 1829) View in CoL and Auchenipterus osteomystax View in CoL (Miranda Ribeiro, 1918).

Diagnosis: Auchenipterus is diagnosed by nine morphological synapomorphies. Exclusive: (1) distal portion of first anal-fin unbranched ray ornamented with rounded hooks in nuptial males (char. 3742: 0 → 1). Non-exclusive: (2) anterior portion of nasal bifurcated (char. 3513: 0 → 1), convergent in Ageneiosini , Trachelyopterus insignis and Trachycorystes trachycorystes ; (3) four ossified suborbital tubules in adult (char. 3519: 1 → 2), convergent in Ageneiosus dentatus , Ageneiosus vittatus , Entomocorus , Auchenipterichthys , Trachelyopterus albicrux , Trachelyopterus porosus , Trachelyopterus aff. Trachelyopterus porosus and Trachycorystes ; (4) anterior cranial fontanel elliptical (char. 3542: 0 → 2), convergent in several auchenipterids; (5) ventral process present on dentary symphysis (char. 3606: 0 → 1), convergent in Ageneiosus lineatus , Tympanopleura brevis , Tympanopleura rondoni , Asterophysus , Pseudauchenipterus (except Pseudauchenipterus flavescens ) and Trachycorystes trachycorystes ; (6) cartilage of posterior condyle of autopalatine small (char. 3609: 0 → 1), convergent in Entomocorus , Ageneiosus , Tympanopleura , some species of Tatia and Gephyromochlus ; (7) parapophysis of fifth vertebra moderate in size, approximately the same size as sixth vertebra (char. 3665: 0 → 1), convergent in Centromochlinae (except Centromochlus , Gephyromochlus , Glanidium catharinensis , Balroglanis carolae , Tatia creutzbergi and Tatia intermedia ), Liosomadoras , Tocantinsia , Trachelyichthys (except Trachelyichthys exilis ) and Spinipterus ; (8) middle nuchal plate not in contact with parieto-supraoccipital (char. 3672: 1 → 0), convergent in Pseudauchenipterus, Trachelyopterini , Centromochlus , Duringlanis perugiae , Glanidium (except Glanidium ribeiroi ), Tatia (except Tatia musaica , Tatia meesi and Tatia sp. 2 ) and Liosomadoras ; and (9) last proximal radial of anal fin laminar (char. 3741: 1 → 0), convergent in Auchenipterichthys , Tocantinsia , Ageneiosus (except Ageneiosus lineatus , Ageneiosus pardalis and Ageneiosus inermis ), Tympanopleura rondoni and Tympanopleura cryptica .

Comparisons: Auchenipterus is distinguished from all auchenipterines, except Trachelyichthys and Pseudepapterus , by the number of branched pelvic-fin rays, ten to 14 (vs. less branched pelvic-fin rays in remaining auchenipterines, except 14–16 in Epapterus ) and, except for Trachelyichthys exilis and Trachelyichthys sp. 1 , by having the posteriormost pterygiophore of dorsal fin supporting two separate rays (vs. posteriormost pterygiophores of dorsal fin, ultimate and in some cases the penultimate, supporting only a single ray). Except for Auchenipterus fordicei , the genus is also distinguished from auchenipterines, except Pseudauchenipterus , Pseudepapterus , Epapterus , Ageneiosus vittatus , Ageneiosus inermis , Ageneiosus dentatus and Ageneiosus militaris , by the absence of serrations on the anterior margin of the pectoral-fin spine (vs. anterior margin of pectoral-fin spine serrated); except for Epapterus and Pseudepapterus , by having a consistent skin membrane joining the proximal half of the contralateral innermost pelvic-fin rays (vs. contralateral innermost pelvic-fin rays separated from each other); except for Asterophysus , Pseudepapterus , Epapterus , Trachelyichthys and Trachelyopterichthys , by having the pelvic-fin girdle within the anterior half of the body length (vs. pelvic-fin girdle approximately at the halfway point of the body); and except for Pseudauchenipterus, Trachelyopterini and Liosomadoras , by the absence of contact between the middle nuchal plate and parieto-supraoccipital (vs. middle nuchal plate and parieto-supraoccipital in contact with each other).

TRIBE AGENEIOSINI BLEEKER, 1862 (CLADE 107)

Ageneiosi Bleeker, 1862 (in Bleeker, 1862 –63): 14 (type genus: Ageneiosus La Cepède, 1803 View in CoL ).

Included genera: Ageneiosus La Cepède, 1803 , Tetranematichthys Bleeker, 1858 and Tympanopleura Eigenmann, 1912 .

Diagnosis: Ageneiosini is diagnosed by 13 molecular and 19 morphological synapomorphies. Exclusive: (1) maxillary barbel short, not surpassing anterior margin of orbit (char. 3499: 0 → 1); (2) mesethmoid expanded anterolaterally, with notch on anterior and posterior portions (char. 3532: 1 → 0); (3) anterolateral process of sphenotic present (char.3551: 0 → 1); (4) sesamoid bone 1 large, plate-like (char.3621: 1→ 2); (5) posterior projection of urohyal bifurcated in ventral view (char. 3630: 0 → 1), reversed in Tympanopleura brevis and Tympanopleura cryptica ; (6) ventral connection between posterior portion of ventral hypohyal and anterior ceratohyal via bony suture (char. 3634: 0 → 1); and (7) medial portion of first epibranchial enlarged, wider than lateral portion (char. 3647: 1 → 0), reversed in Tympanopleura brevis and Tympanopleura cryptica . Non-exclusive: (8) anterior portion of nasal bifurcated (char. 3513: 0 → 1), convergent in Auchenipterus , Trachelyopterus insignis and Trachycorystes trachycorystes ; (9) antorbital not participating on orbital margin (char. 3514: 1 → 0), convergent in Trachelyopterus insignis and Gelanoglanis ; (10) anteromedial portion of mesethmoid not contacting premaxilla (char. 3534: 0 → 1), reversed in Tympanopleura cryptica , convergent in Gelanoglanis and Pseudepapterus ; (11) posterior process of epioccipital connected by suture to parapophysis of compound centrum (char. 3566: 0 → 1), convergent in Auchenipterus , Epapterus , Pseudepapterus , Trachelyichthys and Trachelyopterus coriaceus ; (12) distal portion of premaxilla extended (char. 3586: 0 → 1), convergent in Auchenipterus , Epapterus , Gelanoglanis and Pseudepapterus cucuhyensis ; (13) process present on posteromesial portion of distal extension of premaxilla (char. 3587: 0 → 1), convergent in Centromochlus existimatus and Trachelyopterichthys ; (14) spines present on maxilla of nuptial males (char. 3594: 0 → 1), reversed in Ageneiosus ucayalensis , convergent in Trachelyopterus insignis ; (15) hyomandibula not contacting metapterygoid (char. 3620: 0 → 1), convergent in Centromochlus , Gelanoglanis and Tatia ; (16) posterior projection of urohyal short, approximately the same length as the main body of the urohyal in ventral view (char. 3628: 1 → 0), convergent in Auchenipterichthys longimanus , Auchenipterus , Centromochlus , Epapterus and Pseudepapterus ; (17) anterior nuchal plate absent (char. 3670: 0 → 1), convergent in Gelanoglanini , Duringlanis romani , Pseudepapterus and clade 58 of Tatia ; (18) dorsal-fin spine of nuptial males strongly arched (char. 3687: 0 → 1), convergent in Trachelyopterus amblops , Trachelyopterus insignis and Trachelyopterus teaguei ; and (19) anal fin elongated, at least half of body length (char. 3740: 0 → 2), convergent in Auchenipterus , Epapterus , Pseudepapterus , Trachelyichthys and Trachelyopterichthys .