Laimosemion

{{Short description|Genus of fishes}}

{{Automatic taxobox

| image = Laimosemion xiphidius.jpg

| image_caption = Laimosemion xiphidius

| taxon = Laimosemion

| authority = Huber, 1999

| type_species = Rivulus geayi

| type_species_authority = Vaillant, 1899

| synonyms =

Owiyeye Costa, 2006

}}

Laimosemion is a genus of fish in the family Rivulidae from the Amazon basin and basins in the Guiana Shield in tropical South America. They mostly inhabit small streams, creeks, swamps and pools in lowlands, but locally occur to an altitude of {{cvt|1300|m}}.Vermeulen, F.B.M., Suijker, W.H. & Collier, G.E. (2012): Laimosemion paryagi (Cyprinodontiformes: Aplocheiloidei: Rivulidae), a new species from the upper Mazaruni river drainage of Western Guyana. aqua, International Journal of Ichthyology, 18 (4): 181-190.

Like their relatives, the adult Laimosemion often inhabit very small isolated waters, but they are not annual species like some other killifish. The adults can move some distance over land to find another water source. They do this by repeatedly flipping their body. They commonly complete their life cycle in the water, often laying their eggs among plant material. However, their eggs can survive several days of drought, only hatching when again covered by water.{{cite journal | author1=Furness, A.I. | author2=D.N. Reznick | author3=A. Tatarenkov | author4=J.C. Avise | year=2018 | title=The evolution of diapause in Rivulus (Laimosemion) | journal=Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society | volume=184 | issue=3 | pages=773–790 | doi=10.1093/zoolinnean/zly021 }}{{cite journal | author=Furness, A.I. | year=2016 | title=The evolution of an annual life cycle in killifish: adaptation to ephemeral aquatic environments through embryonic diapause | journal=Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc | volume=91 | issue=3 | pages=796–812 | doi=10.1111/brv.12194 | pmid=25969869 | s2cid=33170099 }}

The largest are up to {{cvt|8.5|cm}} in total length, but most Laimosemion species only reach around half that size.{{FishBase genus | genus=Laimosemion | month=November | year=2018 }}

Species

Until 2011, Laimosemion were included in Rivulus,{{cite journal| author=Costa, W.J.E.M. | year=2011 | title=Phylogenetic position and taxonomic status of Anablepsoides, Atlantirivulus, Cynodonichthys, Laimosemion and Melanorivulus (Cyprinodontiformes: Rivulidae) | journal=Ichthyological Exploration of Freshwaters | volume=22 | issue=3 | pages=233–249 }} and some prefer to maintain them in that genus.{{cite journal| author=Huber, J.H. | year=2012 | title=Reappraisal of the Phylogeny of Rivulus and its Allied focused on External Characters | journal=Killi-Data Series | volume=2012 | pages=9–25 }}

If recognized as a valid genus, there are currently 29 species in Laimosemion:{{Cof genus |Laimosemion|access-date=8 November 2018}}

References

{{Reflist}}

{{Taxonbar|from=Q6473943}}

Category:Rivulidae

Category:Freshwater fish genera