Metadata

Isbrueckerichthys alipionis

(Gosline 1947) Derijst 1996

ORDERSUB-ORDERFAMILY
SiluriformesLoricarioideiLoricariidae

Note

This is an isolated cave population of an otherwise epigean species. It was originally (Trajano et al. 2008) considered as a troglophilic popualtion, capable of living permanently in either epigean or hypogean environments. More recently Trajano (2021) has shown that the cave population is completey isolated from other populations of I. alipionis and is therefore effectively troglobitic, though it has not yet has sufficient time to evolve and troglomorphic features. Isolation is due to evolution of the karst basin in which the fish is found such that the streamway is now not connected to to other stream sements due to downcutting.  

Synonyms

Pareiorhaphis alipionis  Gosline 1947

Country

Brazil

Types

This population is not yet recognised as a separate taxon, though it probably should be, and there are currently no types.

Distribution

Known only from the "type locality": Santana Cave, Alto Ribeira karst area, Iporanga, Sao Paulo State, Brazil.

Habitat

An upper level vadose tributary which is isolated by vertical waterfalls from downstream passages.

Systematics

Should probably be considered as a taxon separate from epigean I. alipionis.

Conservation Status

TLO [NE]

Museum Holdings

None known.

Key References

Karmann, I. Thesis 1994 Evolução e Dinâmica Atual do Sistema Cárstico do Alto Vale do Rio Ribeira de Iguape, Sudeste do Estado de São Paulo
Trajano, E., Secutti, S., Pereira, E.H.L. and Reis, R. E. Journal Article 2008 A cave population of Isbrueckerichthys alipionis (Gosline, 1947) in the Upper Ribeira karst area, southeastern Brazil (Siluriformes: Loricariidae)
Roxo, F.F., Zawadzki, C.H., Guilherme, J., Silva, D.C., Chiachio, M.C., Foresti, F., and Oliveira, C. Journal Article 2012 Molecular systematics of the armored neotropical catfish subfamily Neoplecostominae (Siluriformes: Loricariidae)
Pereira, H.L. and Reis, R.E. Journal Article 2017 Morphology-based phylogeny of the suckermouth armored catfishes, with emphasis on the Neoplecostominae (Teleostei: Siluriformes: Loricariidae)
Trajano, E. Journal Article 2021 Diversity of Brazilian troglobitic fishes: Models of colonization and differentiation in subterranean habitats