Pseudobunocephalus

Pseudobunocephalus is a genus of banjo catfishes.

Taxonomy

The species of Pseudobunocephalus were originally classified in the genus Bunocephalus, but after further study it was found that these fish were unrelated to the type species Bunocephalus verrucosus or any of the other existing aspredinid genera. Thus, a new genus was described in 2008.
Pseudobunocephalus is the most basal genus in the family, and represents the sister group to all other Aspredinidae. P. lundbergi is also the most basal species and is the sister taxon to the rest of the species in the genus.

Species

There are currently six species in this genus:

Pseudobunocephalus amazonicus
Pseudobunocephalus bifidus
Pseudobunocephalus iheringii
Pseudobunocephalus lundbergi Friel, 2008
Pseudobunocephalus quadriradiatus
''Pseudobunocephalus rugosus''

Distribution

Pseudobunocephalus species are widespread in the Amazon, Orinoco, and Paraguay-Paraná River basins.

Description

Species of Pseudobunocephalus are small, all of them reaching less than 80 millimetres SL. They are often mistaken at first glance with juvenile Bunocephalus species.