Acanthobunocephalus Scruggsi
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The name Acanthobunocephalus Scruggsi refers to the genus Acanthobunocephalus and species Scruggsi, referring to Earl Scruggs who was a popular banjo player. This name was derived from Greek, in which “akanthos” means spine and “bunocephalus” implies a rigid dorsal spine that locks (Cat-ELog, Aspredinidae). Scruggs Catfishes were discovered in the tributaries of the Lower Purus River Basin in the Amazon Basin in Brazil.
| Scruggs Catfish | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia
|
| Division: | Chordata
|
| Class: | Actinopterygii
|
| Order: | Siluriformes
|
| Family: | Aspredinidae
|
| Genus: | Acanthobunocephalus
|
| Species: | Scruggsi
|
| Binomial name | |
| Acanthobunocephalus Scruggsi Carvalho & Reis, 2020
| |
It is a smaller version of the Acanthobunocephalus Nicoi (Silurifomes: Aspredinidae), however, the Scruggs catfish has a unique number of fins by comparison to all of its relatives in the Aspredinidae catfish family, which consists of about 43 species in the order Siluriformes. This family of catfishes is known commonly as banjo catfishes. These catfishes are found in the tropical rivers of South America. There are 13 genera in this family, and research is currently being conducted to discover more species within these genera. These catfish exist in a plethora of environments. They are found in tidal estuaries, shallow waters, and deep river channels. These species are semifossorial, meaning they spend most of the day on the bottom of the ocean or river immersed partially in detritus or plant residues. These catfish often inhabit mangrove or other coastal brackish water environments. These catfish are lethargic and stagnant. They undulate and move water through their gills to gently sweep along soft substrates. They are omnivores and eat many kinds of marine invertebrates and plant debris. Additionally, some species consume the eggs of other catfishes. Within this family of catfish, the females carry fertilized eggs in their stomachs to shallow water, where they hatch. These eggs are deposited in a low nest while the female watches or distributed over a larger surface area (“Aspredinidae”).
Scruggs catfish have many fins around their bodies. They have fewer fin rays than all other catfish in the Aspredinidae family, numbering “four pectoral-fin rays, whereas other catfish in the family have five or more. They have two dorsal-fin rays, while other catfish have three or more, except Amaralia hypsiura. They have five pelvic-fin rays, as opposed to six, four or five anal-fin rays, as opposed to six or more besides Bunocephalus verrucosus, and nine caudal-fin rays, as opposed to 10 except Hoplomyzontinae, and a few others. Scruggs catfish also have a sleek wide head and long narrow tail, which resembles the banjo shape they embody. Banjo catfish do not have scales or an adipose fin and they do not have a dorsal spine-locking mechanism. They can shed their skin, which is covered in rows of keratinized tubercles. Females are typically larger than males, which displays sexual dimorphism however, males have much longer dorsal fin spines (Pskhun).
According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, Acanthobunocephalus Scruggsi is in the central category of “vulnerable” which is surrounded by “near threatened” and “endangered” on either side. The largest threats to the conservation of this species are commercial fishing, biopiracy, poaching, damming, and mining. Commercial fishing and poaching disrupt the food chain within the marine ecosystem, eliminating the balance between many levels of predator and prey. Similarly, biopiracy, which includes the illegal wildlife trade, also disrupts these trophic levels. Damming is a threat to Scruggs Catfish because their habitats are made substantially smaller, their available resources are limited, and the environment itself is damaged, creating a less habitable space. Finally, mining is a problem for these catfish because it often produces runoff of harmful chemicals into the rivers, this contamination is very difficult to reduce or undo which leads to the decline of many marine species (Lewis).
Works Cited[edit]
Rodríguez-Olarte, D.; Taphorn, D.C.; Mojica, J.I.; Usma, S.; Villa-Navarro, F.; Marrero, C. (2021). "Acanthobunocephalus scruggsi". 2021: e.T187885977A187885990. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-2.RLTS.T187885977A187885990.en. |access-date= requires |url= (help)
“Cat-ELog, Aspredinidae, Pseudobunocephalinae, Acanthobunocephalus Scruggsi.” PlanetCatfish, https://www.planetcatfish.com/common/species.php?species_id=7628.
Lewis, Ryan. “Threats Facing the Amazon Rainforest.” Rainforest Cruises, 28 July 2021, https://www.rainforestcruises.com/guides/threats-facing-the-amazon-rainforest.
Pskhun. “[Ichthyology • 2020] Acanthobunocephalus Scruggsi • a New Miniature Species of Acanthobunocephalus (Silurifomes: Aspredinidae) from the Lower Purus River Basin, Amazon Basin, Brazil.” [Ichthyology • 2020] Acanthobunocephalus Scruggsi • A New Miniature Species of Acanthobunocephalus (Silurifomes: Aspredinidae) from the Lower Purus River Basin, Amazon Basin, Brazil, 1 Jan. 1970, https://novataxa.blogspot.com/2020/05/acanthobunocephalus-scruggsi.html.
Carvalho, Tiago P.; Reis, Roberto E. (27 May 2020). "A New Miniature Species of Acanthobunocephalus (Silurifomes: Aspredinidae) from the Lower Purus River Basin, Amazon Basin, Brazil". Copeia. 108 (2): 347. doi:10.1643/CI-19-309.
References[edit]
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