Xyliphius

Xyliphius is a genus of banjo catfishes from South America.

Xyliphius
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Siluriformes
Family:	Aspredinidae
Subfamily:	Aspredininae
Genus:	Xyliphius C. H. Eigenmann, 1912
Type species
Xyliphius magdalenae C. H. Eigenmann, 1912

This genus appears to be widespread in the Magdalena, Orinoco, Amazon, and Paraguay-Paraná River systems where they are most common in deeper waters.^[1]

Xyliphius includes moderately sized aspredinids, ranging from 8.8–14.7 centimetres (3.5–5.8 in) SL.^[1] 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.^[1]

Species

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

• Xyliphius anachoretes C. A. A. de Figueiredo & Britto, 2010
• Xyliphius barbatus Alonso de Arámburu & Arámburu, 1962
• Xyliphius kryptos Taphorn & Lilyestrom, 1983
• Xyliphius lepturus Orcés-V. (es), 1962
• Xyliphius lombarderoi F. J. J. Risso & E. N. P. de Risso, 1964
• Xyliphius magdalenae C. H. Eigenmann, 1912
• Xyliphius melanopterus Orcés-V. (es), 1962