Kronichthys

Taxobox
name = "Kronichthys"
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Actinopterygii
ordo = Siluriformes
familia = Loricariidae
subfamilia = Neoplecostominae
genus = "Kronichthys"
genus_authority = Miranda Ribeiro, 1908
type_species = "Kronichthys subteres"
type_species_authority = Miranda Ribeiro, 1908
subdivision_ranks = Binomial name
subdivision =
"Kronichthys heylandi"
(Boulenger, 1900)
"Kronichthys lacerta"
(Nichols, 1919)
"Kronichthys subteres"
Miranda Ribeiro, 1908

"Kronichthys" is a genus of catfishes (order Siluriformes) of the family Loricariidae. It includes three species, "K. heylandi", "K. lacerta", and "K. subteres". [cite journal|url=http://silurus.acnatsci.org/ACSI/library/biblios/2007_Ferraris_Catfish_Checklist.pdf|title=Checklist of catfishes, recent and fossil (Osteichthyes: Siluriformes), and catalogue of siluriform primary types|first=Carl J., Jr.|last=Ferraris|journal=Zootaxa|volume=1418|pages=1–628|year=2007|format=PDF] However, it is unknown whether all three species are valid.cite web|url=http://www.auburn.edu/academic/science_math/res_area/loricariid/fish_key/Kronich/Kronich.html|title="Kronichthys" A. Miranda Ribeiro, 1908|first=Jonathan W.|last=Armbruster|accessdate=2007-07-13]

"K. heylandi" inhabits coastal streams of eastern Brazil between Santos and Rio de Janeiro. "K. lacerta" originates from the Baia de Paranaguá basin and Ribeira de Iguape River basin. "K. subteres" lives in the Ribeira de Iguape River basin.

"Kronichthys" species are small, cylindrical fishes similar to the hypoptopomatine "Schizolecis". The color pattern is dark brown with a slight mottling or four dorsal saddles, and the abdomen mostly white. The dorsal fin is short and the adipose fin is small. "K. heylandi" reaches about 15 centimetres (6 in) TL in males and 8.8 cm (3½ in) SL in females.FishBase species|genus=Kronichthys|species=heylandi|subteres|year=2007|month=July] "K. lacerta" grows to about 7 cm (2¾ in) SL.FishBase species|genus=Kronichthys|species=lacerta|subteres|year=2007|month=July] "K. subteres" reaches about 12 cm (4¾ in) TL.FishBase species|genus=Kronichthys|species=subteres|subteres|year=2007|month=July]

"K. subteres" inhabits streams with rocky and sandy bottom. This species forages both during the day and at night, grazin on microscopic algae, mostly diatoms and green algae growing on rocks and submersed vegetation. They occasionally take chironomid and simuliid larvae, as well as tiny crustaceans. Before grazing on a patch with dense sediment, the fish makes wiggling head-down movements which raise sediment, which is blown away by the water current. When grazing algae off the substrate, the fish makes vigorous mouth movements, and moves by jerky movements probably related to its mouth making alternate grazing and attaching to the substrate. "K. subteres" leaves conspicuous grazing marks on exposed rocks. These fish may re-graze a given spot by moving backwards.

References