Bedotiidae

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Bedotiidae
Bedotia sp.

Bedotia sp.

Systematics
Spinefish (Acanthopterygii)
Perch relatives (Percomorphaceae)
Ovalentaria
Superordinate : Earfish relatives (Atherinomorphae)
Order : Earfish (Atheriniformes)
Family : Bedotiidae
Scientific name
Bedotiidae
Jordan & Hubbs , 1919

The Bedotiidae are an endemic family of the earfish-like (Atheriniformes) endemic to Madagascar . They live in the fresh water of small and medium-sized rivers and occasionally in stagnant waters and swamps. The family includes the two genera Bedotia and Rheocles with a total of 14 described species , plus some undescribed species whose species status has already been confirmed as valid.

In their natural, shaded habitat, the Bedotiidae often feed on terrestrial insects that fall into the water. Cutting down the forests in the wetlands therefore quickly leads to a decline in populations. Further threats result from the introduction of non-native fish species.

Systematic classification

The Bedotiidae are closely related to the Melanotaeniidae , Pseudomugilidae and Telmatherinidae , which, however, only occur in Australia and New Guinea or on Sulawesi. The fact that two species of the Bedotiidae as well as several representatives of the families listed can also be found in brackish water has led to the assumption that they could descend from a common marine ancestor. Another theory, however, is that such hypothetical common ancestors could also have been freshwater fish . It was only with the collapse of the ancient continent of Gondwana that today's families became so geographically separated. Some parts of the supercontinent like Madagascar, India and Australia could have remained together even after the separation of Africa into the Cretaceous Period .

First efforts to take account of this close relationship between the Malagasy and Australian rainbow fish led to the Bedotiidae being incorporated into the Melanotaeniidae as the subfamily Bedotiinae. A more recent system, however, suggests the establishment of a subordination of the ear-fish-like , which is called Melanotaenioidei ( rainbow fish relatives ). In this group the Bedotiidae, the Melanotaeniidae, the Pseudomugilidae ( blue eyes ) and the Telmatherinidae ( sunbeam fish or Sulawesi rainbow fish) are summarized.

Genera and species

literature

  • John S. Sparks and William Leo Smith: Phylogeny and biogeography of the Malagasy and Australasian rainbowfishes (Teleostei: Melanotaenioidei): Gondwanan vicariance and evolution in freshwater. 2004

Web links

Commons : Bedotiidae  - Collection of images, videos and audio files