Rhamphichthyidae

Life-forms

Superregnum: Eukaryota
Cladus: Unikonta
Cladus: Opisthokonta
Cladus: Holozoa
Regnum: Animalia
Subregnum: Eumetazoa
Cladus: Bilateria
Cladus: Nephrozoa
Superphylum: Deuterostomia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Infraphylum: Gnathostomata
Megaclassis: Osteichthyes
Superclassis/Classis: Actinopterygii
Classis/Subclassis: Actinopteri
Subclassis/Infraclassis: Neopterygii
Infraclassis: Teleostei
Megacohors: Osteoglossocephalai
Supercohors: Clupeocephala
Cohors: Otomorpha
Subcohors: Ostariophysi
Sectio: Otophysa
Ordo: Gymnotiformes
Familia: Rhamphichthyidae
Genera: Gymnorhamphichthys – Hypopygus – Iracema – Rhamphichthys – Steatogenys
References

Maldonado-Ocampo, J. A., López-Fernández, H., Taphorn, D. C., Bernard, C. R., Crampton, W. G. R. & Lovejoy, N. R.; (in press): Akawaio penak, a new genus and species of Neotropical electric fish (Gymnotiformes, Hypopomidae) endemic to the upper Mazaruni River in the Guiana Shield. Zoologica Scripta, Article first published online: 26 AUG 2013 DOI: 10.1111/zsc.12035

Links

Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors. 2006. FishBase, version (02/2006). [1]

Vernacular names
English: Sand knifefish

Sand knifefish are freshwater electric fish of the family Rhamphichthyidae, from freshwater habitats in South America.[1]

Just like most part of the members of the Gymnotiformes group, they also have elongated and compressed bodies and electric organs. The long anal fin actually extends from before the pectoral fins to the tip of the tail. There is no dorsal fin.[1] Teeth are absent in the oral jaws and the snout is very long and tubular. The nostrils are very close together. This group is sometimes known as the tubesnout knifefishes for this reason.[2]

They are nocturnal and burrow in the sand during the day.[1]
Genera

According to FishBase there are only three genera in this family,[1] but a comprehensive molecular study from 2015 showed that two additional genera belong here (formerly in Hypopomidae, marked with stars* in list),[3] and this has been followed by recent authorities.[4][5][6]

Gymnorhamphichthys
Hypopygus*
Iracema
Rhamphichthys
Steatogenys*

See also

List of fish families

References
Wikispecies has information related to Rhamphichthyidae.

Froese, Rainer, and Daniel Pauly, eds. (2011). "Rhamphichthyidae" in FishBase. December 2011 version.
Nelson, Joseph, S. (2006). Fishes of the World. John Wiley & Sons, Inc. ISBN 0-471-25031-7.
Tagliacollo, V.A.; Bernt, M.J.; Craig, J.M.; Oliviera, C.; Albert, J.S. (2015). "Model-based Total Evidence phylogeny of Neotropical electric knifefishes (Teleostei, Gymnotiformes)". Mol Phylogenet Evol. 95: 20–33. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2015.11.007. hdl:11449/168204. PMID 26616344.
Ferraris Jr, C.J.; C.D. de Santana; R.P. Vari (2017). "Checklist of Gymnotiformes (Osteichthyes: Ostariophysi) and catalogue of primary types". Neotrop. Ichthyol. 15 (1). doi:10.1590/1982-0224-20160067.
van der Sleen, P.; J.S. Albert, eds. (2017). Field Guide to the Fishes of the Amazon, Orinoco, and Guianas. Princeton University Press. pp. 337–341. ISBN 978-0691170749.
Eschmeyer, W.N.; R. Fricke; R. van der Laan (12 May 2018). "Catalog of Fishes". California Academy of Sciences. Retrieved 12 May 2018.