Distichodontidae | |
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Distichodus maculatus | |
Scientific classification
![]() | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Actinopterygii |
Order: | Characiformes |
Suborder: | Citharinoidei |
Family: |
Distichodontidae Günther, 1864 |
Genera | |
17, See article. |
The Distichodontidae are a family of African freshwater fishes of the order Characiformes. [1]
Two evolutionary grades are found in this family; micropredators ( predators of very small organisms like aquatic insect larvae) and herbivores have a nonprotractile upper jaw and a deep to shallow body, while carnivores have a movable upper jaw and an elongated body. [1] Although the herbivores primarily feed on plant material, these species often have omnivorous tendencies. The carnivores include specialized fish-eaters (genus Mesoborus), fin-eaters (Belonophago, Eugnathichthys and Phago) and species that will feed on both whole fish and fins (Ichthyborus). The fin-eaters attack other fish, even ones that are much larger, where they bite off pieces of fins with their sharp teeth. [2] [3] [4]
The fish in Distichodontidae vary greatly in size among species, with the smallest micropredators being less than 8 cm (3.1 in) in length, and the largest herbivores can reach up to 83 cm (33 in). [5]
The 17 genera include about 90 species: [6]
{{
cite book}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (
link)
Distichodontidae | |
---|---|
![]() | |
Distichodus maculatus | |
Scientific classification
![]() | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Actinopterygii |
Order: | Characiformes |
Suborder: | Citharinoidei |
Family: |
Distichodontidae Günther, 1864 |
Genera | |
17, See article. |
The Distichodontidae are a family of African freshwater fishes of the order Characiformes. [1]
Two evolutionary grades are found in this family; micropredators ( predators of very small organisms like aquatic insect larvae) and herbivores have a nonprotractile upper jaw and a deep to shallow body, while carnivores have a movable upper jaw and an elongated body. [1] Although the herbivores primarily feed on plant material, these species often have omnivorous tendencies. The carnivores include specialized fish-eaters (genus Mesoborus), fin-eaters (Belonophago, Eugnathichthys and Phago) and species that will feed on both whole fish and fins (Ichthyborus). The fin-eaters attack other fish, even ones that are much larger, where they bite off pieces of fins with their sharp teeth. [2] [3] [4]
The fish in Distichodontidae vary greatly in size among species, with the smallest micropredators being less than 8 cm (3.1 in) in length, and the largest herbivores can reach up to 83 cm (33 in). [5]
The 17 genera include about 90 species: [6]
{{
cite book}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (
link)