Kneriidae | |
---|---|
Kneria angolensis | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Actinopterygii |
Order: | Gonorynchiformes |
Suborder: | Chanoidea |
Family: |
Kneriidae Günther, 1868 |
Genera | |
See text |
The Kneriidae are a small family of freshwater gonorhynchiform fishes native to sub-Saharan Africa.
Most species in this family are part of the subfamily Kneriinae; they typically live in fast-flowing streams, often in highlands, and are small fish, no more than 15 cm (5.9 in) in length. The second subfamily Phractolaeminae contains only a single species, which typically inhabits stagnant or slow-moving waters and reaches up to 25 cm (9.8 in) in length. All Kneriidae have an elongated body shape. Some species are sexually dimorphic, with the male possessing a rosette on the gill covers that is absent in the females. Other species are neotenic, retaining larval features into adulthood. [1]
There are about 31 extant (living) species in five genera. [2] There are two subfamilies, but Phractolaeminae has commonly been regarded as a full family (in which case there is no need for recognizing Kneriinae as it would contain all four remaining genera in Kneriidae). [3] [4]
In addition, the family includes the genus Mahengichthys, which only is known from Eocene fossil remains and is closer to Kneriinae than Phractolaeminae. [4] [5]
Kneriidae | |
---|---|
Kneria angolensis | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Actinopterygii |
Order: | Gonorynchiformes |
Suborder: | Chanoidea |
Family: |
Kneriidae Günther, 1868 |
Genera | |
See text |
The Kneriidae are a small family of freshwater gonorhynchiform fishes native to sub-Saharan Africa.
Most species in this family are part of the subfamily Kneriinae; they typically live in fast-flowing streams, often in highlands, and are small fish, no more than 15 cm (5.9 in) in length. The second subfamily Phractolaeminae contains only a single species, which typically inhabits stagnant or slow-moving waters and reaches up to 25 cm (9.8 in) in length. All Kneriidae have an elongated body shape. Some species are sexually dimorphic, with the male possessing a rosette on the gill covers that is absent in the females. Other species are neotenic, retaining larval features into adulthood. [1]
There are about 31 extant (living) species in five genera. [2] There are two subfamilies, but Phractolaeminae has commonly been regarded as a full family (in which case there is no need for recognizing Kneriinae as it would contain all four remaining genera in Kneriidae). [3] [4]
In addition, the family includes the genus Mahengichthys, which only is known from Eocene fossil remains and is closer to Kneriinae than Phractolaeminae. [4] [5]