Pseudobunocephalus

Pseudobunocephalus is a genus of banjo catfishes.^[1]

Pseudobunocephalus
Ventral and dorsal views
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Siluriformes
Family:	Aspredinidae
Subfamily:	Pseudobunocephalinae
Genus:	Pseudobunocephalus Friel, 2008
Type species
Pseudobunocephalus lundbergi Friel, 2008
Species
See text

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.^[1]

Pseudobunocephalus is the most basal genus in the family, and represents the sister group to all other Aspredinidae.^[1] P. lundbergi is also the most basal species and is the sister taxon to the rest of the species in the genus.^[1]

Species

There are currently six species in this genus:^[2]

• Pseudobunocephalus amazonicus (Mees, 1989)
• Pseudobunocephalus bifidus (C. H. Eigenmann, 1942)
• Pseudobunocephalus iheringii (Boulenger, 1891)
• Pseudobunocephalus lundbergi Friel, 2008
• Pseudobunocephalus quadriradiatus (Mees, 1989)
• Pseudobunocephalus rugosus (C. H. Eigenmann & C. H. Kennedy, 1903)

Distribution

Pseudobunocephalus species are widespread in the Amazon, Orinoco, and Paraguay-Paraná River basins.^[3]

Description

Species of Pseudobunocephalus are small, all of them reaching less than 80 millimetres (3.1 in) SL.^[1] They are often mistaken at first glance with juvenile Bunocephalus species.^[3]