Pseudobunocephalus
{{Short description|Genus of fishes}}
{{Automatic taxobox
| image = FMIB 52355 Dysichthys australe Eigenmann and Ward (Type) Ventral and dorsal views.jpeg
| image_caption = Ventral and dorsal views
| taxon = Pseudobunocephalus
| authority = Friel, 2008
| type_species = Pseudobunocephalus lundbergi
| type_species_authority = Friel, 2008
| subdivision_ranks = Species
| subdivision = See text
| synonyms =
}}
Pseudobunocephalus is a genus of banjo catfishes.{{cite journal|journal=Neotropical Ichthyology|volume=6|issue=3|pages=293–300|year=2008|title=Pseudobunocephalus, a new genus of banjo catfish with the description of a new species from the Orinoco River system of Colombia and Venezuela (Siluriformes: Aspredinidae)|first=John P.|last=Friel|doi=10.1590/S1679-62252008000300001|doi-access=free}}
Taxonomy
The species of Pseudobunocephalus were originally classified in the genus Bunocephalus, but after further study it was found that these fish were unrelated to the type species Bunocephalus verrucosus or any of the other existing aspredinid genera. Thus, a new genus was described in 2008.
Pseudobunocephalus is the most basal genus in the family, and represents the sister group to all other Aspredinidae. P. lundbergi is also the most basal species and is the sister taxon to the rest of the species in the genus.
Species
There are currently six species in this genus:{{FishBase genus | genus = Pseudobunocephalus| month = December | year = 2011}}
- Pseudobunocephalus amazonicus (Mees, 1989)
- Pseudobunocephalus bifidus (C. H. Eigenmann, 1942)
- Pseudobunocephalus iheringii (Boulenger, 1891)
- Pseudobunocephalus lundbergi Friel, 2008
- Pseudobunocephalus quadriradiatus (Mees, 1989)
- Pseudobunocephalus rugosus (C. H. Eigenmann & C. H. Kennedy, 1903)
Distribution
Pseudobunocephalus species are widespread in the Amazon, Orinoco, and Paraguay-Paraná River basins.
Description
Species of Pseudobunocephalus are small, all of them reaching less than 80 millimetres (3.1 in) SL. They are often mistaken at first glance with juvenile Bunocephalus species.{{cite web|url=http://www.cumv.cornell.edu/pdf/Friel_Ph.D._Thesis_1994.pdf|title=A Phylogenetic Study of the Neotropical Banjo Catfishes (Teleostei: Siluriformes: Aspredinidae)|author=Friel, John Patrick|publisher=Duke University, Durham, NC|date=1994-12-13|accessdate=2007-08-07}}