Apteronotus


Apteronotus is a genus of weakly electric knifefish in the family Apteronotidae, distinguished by the presence of a tiny tail fin. This genus is restricted to tropical and subtropical South America and Panama where found in a wide range of freshwater habitats. They feed on small animals.
Depending on the exact species, they reach a total length of up to about. Although it has been claimed that A. magdalenensis is up to long, this is not supported by recent studies and likely the result of confusion with Sternopygus aequilabiatus. Members of Apteronotus fall into three species groups based on their morphology: the A. albifrons group have a rounded snout and are black or dark brown with a contrasting light stripe on the top of the head, and bands on the tail and at its base, the A. leptorhynchus group have an elongate, slender snout and are brown with a light stripe along the head and back, and a band on the tail, and the A. bonapartii group have an elongate or rounded snout and are brown or gray with a light band on the tail. The last group is not closely related to the first two and will likely need to be moved to another genus. A genetic study published in 2019 found that the genus is strongly polyphyletic with several groups that are quite distantly related.

Species

Apteronotus contains the following recognized species:Apteronotus acidops Triques, 2011Apteronotus albertoi Peixoto, Dutra, Datovo, Menezes & de Santana, 2021Apteronotus albifrons Apteronotus anu de Santana & Vari, 2013Apteronotus apurensis Fernández-Yépez, 1968Apteronotus baniwa de Santana & Vari, 2013Apteronotus bonapartii Apteronotus brasiliensis Apteronotus camposdapazi de Santana & Lehmann-A., 2006Apteronotus caudimaculosus de Santana 2003Apteronotus cuchillejo Apteronotus cuchillo Schultz, 1949Apteronotus ellisi Apteronotus eschmeyeri de Santana,, Maldenado-Ocampo, Severi & G. N. Mendes, 2004Apteronotus ferrarisi de Santana & Vari, 2013Apteronotus galvisi de Santana, Maldonado-Ocampo & Crampton, 2007Apteronotus jurubidae Apteronotus leptorhynchus 1912 Apteronotus lindalvae de Santana & Cox Fernandes, 2012Apteronotus macrolepis Apteronotus macrostomus Apteronotus magdalenensis Apteronotus magoi de Santana, Castillo G. & Taphorn, 2006Apteronotus mariae Apteronotus milesi de Santana & Maldonado-Ocampo, 2005Apteronotus paranaensis Apteronotus pemon de Santana & Vari, 2013Apteronotus quilombola Peixoto, Datovo, Menezes & de Santana, 2021Apteronotus rostratus
  • ''Apteronotus spurrellii''