Micromyzon orinoco

Micromyzon orinoco is a species of catfish (order Siluriformes) in the family Aspredinidae.[1]

Micromyzon orinoco
Not evaluated (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Chordata
Class:
Actinopterygii
Order:
Siluriformes
Family:
Aspredinidae
Genus:
Micromyzon
Species:
M. orinoco
Binomial name
Micromyzon orinoco

Distribution and habitat

M. orinoco can be found in the main channel of lower Orinoco River in Venezuela near the town of Ciudad Guayana. They live on the sandy and muddy bottom of the river, at depths from 10 to 18 meters.[2]

Description

This species of the aspredinid catfish tribe Hoplomyzontini Micromyzon, was originally collected in expeditions led in 1978-79. This species differs from Micromyzon akamai in a number of particular physical and skeletal features[2] but shares its small size and lack of eyes.

To identify this species, the examination and comparison process took nearly 40 years due to the rare and elusive nature of the species. They originally captured only two specimens.[2] Its size, of less than 1 inch in length, added to the challenge of capture and identification.

High-Resolution X-ray Computed Tomography was used to scan the species and compare its skeleton to other hoplomyzontins[2]

Etymology

The name orinoco refers to the Orinoco river basin where the species was discovered (Río Orinoco).[2]

References
  1. Ferraris, Carl J. Jr. (2007). "Checklist of catfishes, recent and fossil (Osteichthyes: Siluriformes), and catalogue of siluriform primary types" (PDF). Zootaxa. 1418: 1–628. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.1418.1.1.
  2. Carvalho, Tiago P.; Lundberg, John G.; Baskin, Jonathan N.; Friel, John P.; Reis, Roberto E. (2016). "A new species of the blind and miniature genus Micromyzon Friel and Lundberg, 1996 (Silurifomes: Aspredinidae) from the Orinoco River: describing catfish diversity using high-resolution computed tomography". Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia. 165 (1): 37–53. doi:10.1635/053.165.0104. S2CID 90157887.
  1. "Almost 4 Decades Later, Mini Eyeless Catfish Gets a Name - DrexelNow". DrexelNow. Retrieved 2017-02-26.
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