Xyliphius

Xyliphius is a genus of banjo catfishes from South America.
This genus appears to be widespread in the Magdalena, Orinoco, Amazon, and Paraguay-Paraná River systems where they are most common in deeper waters.
Xyliphius includes moderately sized aspredinids, ranging from SL. Species of this genus are distinguished from all other aspredinids by having highly reduced eyes, toothless premaxillae, a row of fleshy papillae projecting anteriorly off the lower lip, flattened unculi and unculiferous tubercles flattened. These species also have the openings of the anterior nares with papillae and no dark saddles on the body.

Species

There are currently seven described species in this genus:Xyliphius anachoretes C. A. A. de Figueiredo & Britto, 2010Xyliphius barbatus Alonso de Arámburu & Arámburu, 1962Xyliphius kryptos Taphorn & Lilyestrom, 1983Xyliphius lepturus Orcés-V., 1962Xyliphius magdalenae C. H. Eigenmann, 1912Xyliphius melanopterus Orcés-V., 1962Xyliphius sofiae Sabaj Pérez, Carvalho & Reis, 2017
;SynonymsXyliphius lombarderoi F. J. J. Risso & E. N. P. de Risso, 1964; valid as ''X. barbatus''