FAMILY Details for Hypopomidae - Bluntnose knifefishes

Family Hypopomidae - Bluntnose knifefishes
Order	:	Gymnotiformes
Class	:	Teleostei
No. in FishBase	:	Genera : 9 \| Species : 48 Eschmeyer's Catalog of Fishes
Environment	:	Fresh : Yes \| Brackish : Yes \| Marine : No
Division	:	Primary freshwater
Aquarium	:	some
First Fossil Record	:
Remark	:	Species diversity and systematics of the Hypopomidae has been reviewed by Mago-Leccia (1994), Sullivan (1997, 1998), Albert and Campos-da-Paz (1998), and Albert (2001). Hypopomid species possess the following unique combination of characters among gymnotiforms: teeth absent from both jaws; snout moderate to short length (preorbital region less than 38% head length); eye small (diameter less than distance between nares); nasal capsule near eye, anterior nares located outside gape; infraorbital bones ossified as slender tubes; operculum trapezoidal; hyomandibula oriented oblique to long axis of head; anal-fin origin ventral or posterior to pectoral fin-base; no urogenital papilla; no caudal fin or dorsal organ. Hypopomids also possess a multiphasic (usually biphasic) electric organ discharge produced as discrete pulses. There are currently 23 names available in the literature for hypopomid genera and species. Of these, 6 generic and 25 species names are valid. There are in addition 10 manuscript names for species currently in preparation, bringing the known diversity of Hypopomidae to 35 species. Many more hypopomid species are anticipated, as the rate of description is accelerating. Hypopomids are relatively conservative in terms of overall external morphology. Like all gymnotiforms the shape is typically culteriform, with an elongate body and anal fin. Higher level hypopomid taxonomy emphasizes differences in: snout length and body profile, ranging from highly compressed laterally (e.g., Steatogenys) to cylindrical and worm-like (e.g., Microsternarchus). Hypopomids are small to medium sized electric fishes, ranging in total adult body size, from the smallest extant gymnotiform species Hypopygus lepturus (80 mm) to Brachyhypopomus brevirostris (350 mm). The Hypopomidae is confined to the Humid Neotropics, ranging the Rio de la Plata of Argentina (35° S) to the Rio Tuira of Panama (8°N). Hypopomids are known from the continental waters of all South American countries except Chile (Albert, 2001), and are most diverse - both taxonomically and ecologically - in the Amazon basin. The ecology and natural history of most hypopomid species is very poorly understood. Brachyhypopomus is perhaps the most well studied group; it is also the most widely distributed hypopomid genus, in terms of both geography and habitat, extending the full range of the family. Brachyhypopomus species inhabit seasonal streams in the relative to highly desertified areas of northwest Venezuela (Falcón), Gran Sabana (central Guyana), northeast Brazil, southeast Brazil, and northern Argentina (Chaco) (Costa and Campos-da-Paz, 1992). Brachyhypopomus is also highly diverse and abundant in floating meadows of Central Amazonia. Brachyhypopomus is able to tolerate protracted periods of hypoxic water conditions, at least in part because they can hold air bubbles in the gill chamber for use in aerial respiration. Hypopomid systematics and taxonomy is rapidly changing as new species and previously undocumented phenotypes are discovered. The total expected number of species cannot currently be estimated with confidence. A large number of undescribed hypopomid species are known in museum collections and many more are likely to be captured from continued field studies, particularly in Western and Central Amazonia. There is little direct commercial exploitation of hypopomid species. Brachyhypopomus species are ecologically important in floating meadows of white water floodplains, often constituting a significant fraction of the biomass (Crampton, 1996). Steatogenys elegans is an important part of the biomass in the main channels of Amazonian channels. Hypopomid species are not common in the aquarium trade and are not usually eaten. Suggested new common name for this family from Ref. 58418.
Etymology	:	Greek, hypo = under + Greek, pomas, -atos = cover ( Ref. 45335).
Reproductive guild	:	nonguarders
Typical activity level	:
Main Ref.	:	Albert, J.S. 2003
Coordinator	:	Albert, J.S. 2003
Deep Fin Classification	:	Osteichthyes \| Actinopterygii \| Actinopteri \| Neopterygii \| Teleostei \| Osteoglossocephalai \| Clupeocephala \| Otomorpha \| Ostariophysi \| \| Otophysa \| \| \| \| \| \| Siluriphysae \| Gymnotiformes \| Sternopygoidei \| \| Hypopomidae

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Species/Synonymy list for the family Hypopomidae as currently in FishBase

Important recommendation:

The list below must not be used as an authority reference synonymy list like those found in scientific published revisions, which must be the source to be used and cited eventually when they exist.

Rather, it reflects the current content of FishBase, and the progress with respect to synchronization with the Catalog of Fishes. However, we think it can be useful for users to assess the quality of information in FishBase, to start new work on the family, or to cross-check with other lists.

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Unless it is explicitly precised, the list is not complete, please search all original names published for the family in the Catalog of Fishes (genera, species), including those with uncertain or unknown status, that are not included in FishBase when they are not attached to a valid species.

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The list ordered as follows:

When subfamilies are recognized, nominotypical subfamily first then other subfamilies by alphabetical order.
Type genus of the family first (or of subfamily when subfamilies are recognized) then other genera by chronological order of description (and alphabetical order).
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Scientifc name	Status	Senior/Junior synonym	Combination
Hypopomus artedi (Kaup, 1856)	accepted	senior	new
Rhamphichthys artedi Kaup, 1856	synonym	senior	original
! Hypopomus artedii (Kaup, 1856)	synonym	senior	new
Rhamphichthys mulleri Kaup, 1856	synonym	junior	original
Hypopomus mulleri (Kaup, 1856)	synonym	junior	new
! Hypopomus muelleri (Kaup, 1856)	synonym	junior	new
Parupygus litaniensis Hoedeman, 1962	synonym	junior	original
Parupygus savannensis Hoedeman, 1962	synonym	junior	original
Steatogenys elegans (Steindachner, 1880)	accepted	senior	new
Rhamphichthys elegans Steindachner, 1880	synonym	senior	original
Brachyhypopomus elegans (Steindachner, 1880)	synonym	senior	new
! Steatogenes elegans (Steindachner, 1880)	synonym	senior	new
Rhamphichthys mirabilis Steindachner, 1880	synonym	junior	original
Steatogenys duidae (La Monte, 1929)	accepted	senior	new
Tateichthys duidae La Monte, 1929	synonym	senior	original
Steatogenys ocellatus Crampton, Thorsen & Albert, 2004	accepted	senior	original
Hypopygus lepturus Hoedeman, 1962	accepted	senior	original
Tateichthys duidae (non La Monte, 1929)	misapplied	misapplied	original
Hypopygus neblinae Mago-Leccia, 1994	accepted	senior	original
Hypopygus hoedemani de Santana & Crampton, 2011	accepted	senior	original
Hypopygus isbruckeri de Santana & Crampton, 2011	accepted	senior	original
Hypopygus minissimus de Santana & Crampton, 2011	accepted	senior	original
Hypopygus nijsseni de Santana & Crampton, 2011	accepted	senior	original
Hypopygus ortegai de Santana & Crampton, 2011	accepted	senior	original
Hypopygus benoneae Peixoto, Dutra, de Santana & Wosicki, 2013	accepted	senior	original
Hypopygus varii Campos-da-Paz, 2018	accepted	senior	original
Microsternarchus bilineatus Fernández-Yépez, 1968	accepted	senior	original
Microsternarchus brevis Cox Fernandes, Nogueira, Williston & Alves-Gomes, 2015	accepted	senior	original
Brachyhypopomus brevirostris (Steindachner, 1868)	accepted	senior	new
Rhamphichthys brevirostris Steindachner, 1868	synonym	senior	original
Hypopomus brevirostris (Steindachner, 1868)	synonym	senior	new
Brachyhypopomus occidentalis (Regan, 1914)	accepted	senior	new
Hypopomus occidentalis Regan, 1914	synonym	senior	original
Brachyhypopomus beebei (Schultz, 1944)	accepted	senior	new
Hypopomus beebei Schultz, 1944	synonym	senior	original
Brachyhypopomus diazae (Fernández-Yépez, 1972)	accepted	senior	new
! Hypopomus diazi Fernández-Yépez, 1972	synonym	senior	original
Hypopomus diazae Fernández-Yépez, 1972	synonym	senior	original
! Brachyhypopomus diazi (Fernández-Yépez, 1972)	synonym	senior	new
Brachyhypopomus pinnicaudatus (Hopkins, 1991)	accepted	senior	new
Hypopomus pinnicaudatus Hopkins, 1991	synonym	senior	original
Brachyhypopomus janeiroensis (Costa & Campos-da-Paz, 1992)	accepted	senior	new
Hypopomus janeiroensis Costa & Campos-da-Paz, 1992	synonym	senior	original
Brachyhypopomus jureiae Triques & Khamis, 2003	accepted	senior	original
Brachyhypopomus bombilla Loureiro & Silva, 2006	accepted	senior	original
Brachyhypopomus draco Giora, Malabarba & Crampton, 2008	accepted	senior	original
Brachyhypopomus bullocki Sullivan & Hopkins, 2009	accepted	senior	original
Brachyhypopomus gauderio Giora & Malabarba, 2009	accepted	senior	original
Brachyhypopomus bennetti Sullivan, Zuanon & Cox Fernandes, 2013	accepted	senior	original
Brachyhypopomus walteri Sullivan, Zuanon & Cox Fernandes, 2013	accepted	senior	original
Brachyhypopomus alberti Crampton, de Santana, Waddell & Lovejoy, 2017	accepted	senior	original
Brachyhypopomus arrayae Crampton, de Santana, Waddell & Lovejoy, 2017	accepted	senior	original
Brachyhypopomus batesi Crampton, de Santana, Waddell & Lovejoy, 2017	accepted	senior	original
Brachyhypopomus belindae Crampton, de Santana, Waddell & Lovejoy, 2017	accepted	senior	original
Brachyhypopomus benjamini Crampton, de Santana, Waddell & Lovejoy, 2017	accepted	senior	original
Brachyhypopomus cunia Crampton, de Santana, Waddell & Lovejoy, 2017	accepted	senior	original
Brachyhypopomus flavipomus Crampton, de Santana, Waddell & Lovejoy, 2017	accepted	senior	original
Brachyhypopomus hamiltoni Crampton, de Santana, Waddell & Lovejoy, 2017	accepted	senior	original
Brachyhypopomus hendersoni Crampton, de Santana, Waddell & Lovejoy, 2017	accepted	senior	original
Brachyhypopomus menezesi Crampton, de Santana, Waddell & Lovejoy, 2017	accepted	senior	original
Brachyhypopomus palenque Crampton, de Santana, Waddell & Lovejoy, 2017	accepted	senior	original
Brachyhypopomus provenzanoi Crampton, de Santana, Waddell & Lovejoy, 2017	accepted	senior	original
Brachyhypopomus regani Crampton, de Santana, Waddell & Lovejoy, 2017	accepted	senior	original
Brachyhypopomus sullivani Crampton, de Santana, Waddell & Lovejoy, 2017	accepted	senior	original
Brachyhypopomus verdii Crampton, de Santana, Waddell & Lovejoy, 2017	accepted	senior	original
Brachyhypopomus degy Dutra, Peixoto, Ochoa, Ohara, de Santana, Menezes & Datovo, 2021	accepted	senior	original
Racenisia fimbriipinna Mago-Leccia, 1994	accepted	senior	original
Stegostenopos cryptogenes Triques, 1997	accepted	senior	original
Steatogenys cryptogenes (Triques, 1997)	synonym	senior	new
Akawaio penak Maldonado-Ocampo, López-Fernández, Taphorn, Bernard, Crampton & Lovejoy, 2013	accepted	senior	original
Procerusternarchus pixuna Cox Fernandes, Nogueira & Alves-Gomes, 2014	accepted	senior	original