All FishesAspredinidaePseudobunocephalinae ⇒ The genus Pseudobunocephalus

Hop to next section Summary of pseudobunocephalus
Pronounced sue doh boon oh SEFF ah luss.
Etymology The generic name is a combination of the Greek word pseudes, meaning false or deceptive, plus the aspredinid genus Bunocephalus. It alludes to the fact that members of this genus have previously been mistaken for juveniles of various species of Bunocephalus.
Identification Relatively small (less than 80 mm SL) banjo catfishes distinguished from other aspredinids by having the following unique characters: the dentary teeth are restricted to broad tooth patch near symphysis of lower jaw (vs. more broadly distributed along the length of the dentary); the metapterygoid lacks a bony connection with the quadrate; the posterior end of autopalatine is distinctly forked and bears two separate terminal cartilages; the absence of the fourth pharyngobranchial; the absence of gill rakers on all branchial arches; and the lack of bifid hemal spines on vertebrae that articulate with anal-fin pterygiophores. Other characters not unique to this genus, but still useful for distinguishing it from other aspredinid genera include: the anterior limits of upper and lower jaws are approximately equal (also in Acanthobunocephalus); the lateral line is truncated at approximately the level of the dorsal-fin origin (also in Acanthobunocephalus); the dorsal- and ventral-most principal caudal rays much shorter in length than other principal caudal rays (also in Acanthobunocephalus); the dorsal- and anal-fin membranes are not adnate with body (also in Acanthobunocephalus); the interhyal is absent (also in Hoplomyzon); and the abdominal and precaudal centra lack bony horizontal lamina (also in Dupouyichthys, Ernstichthys, Hoplomyzon and Micromyzon).
Size Smallest 29mm, largest 59mm, average 39mm, most commonly 59mm. All SL.
Species There are 7 "species" in the database
New spp. / time
1750 1770 1790 1810 1830 1850 1870 1890 1910 1930 1950 1970 1990 2010 
Distribution

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