Revision of Auchenoglanis

[lfinley58]

Hi all.

The following looks like it might require some rethinking in the Cat-eLog.

Lee


A re-evaluation of the species-level diversity within the catfish genus Auchenoglanis (Siluriformes: Claroteidae)

Tom Geerinckx and Emmanuel Vreven

Journal of Natural History: Published online October 4, 2013; Pages 1 - 32 (pages may change in hard copy (?)) [not open access].

The taxonomic history of the African catfish genus Auchenoglanis includes eight nominal species, with two of these, Auchenoglanis biscutatus and Auchenoglanis occidentalis, being recognized as valid by most authors. The validity of all eight species was recently established based on mainly pigmentation-related characters and the shape of the premaxillary tooth plates. As these results opposed previous works but lacked any mention of these, the species diversity in the genus was re-evaluated based on biometric, meristic and other morphological data. It reconfirms the status of only two valid species within the genus. Auchenoglanis occidentalis ranks among the African fish species with very large distribution areas being present from Senegal to Tanzania. Auchenoglanis biscutatus is distinguished from A. occidentalis by a postorbital head length that is greater than the preorbital head length, an adipose fin that rises abruptly, and a maxillary barbel with a tip not darker than the head colour.

[Birger]

Hmmm interesting, I need to get this paper.

Birger

[Marc van Arc]

Lumpers 1 - Splitters 0

[lfinley58]

HI Marc and all.

I concur. The paper is a very interesting deconstruction of Retzer's 2010 revision of the genus.

Lee

[Shovelnose]

A copy if possible Lee.


Thanks,

[unblinded]

Lumpers 1 - Splitters 0

Love it, Marc. Which group do you fall into? I can't decide whether I want to be a lumper or splitter. The hobbyist part of me is a lumper, which allows me to enjoy what I have and quit trying to figure out exactly what it is. However, the obsessive compulsive side wants to be a splitter.

[Marc van Arc]

This has been discussed before: http://www.planetcatfish.com/forum/view ... lit=lumper

I'm (still) a lumper for what it's worth

[jippo]

Nice, just when I got a real species for my tiny Auchenoglanis I'll have to call him occidentalis again .

[Birger]

I do not think this is over yet...I think it should be a lets wait for a bit situation, before making changes to the database.

Birger

[Jools]

Agreed. Was going to suggest 24 months based on previous experience.

Jools

[Viktor Jarikov]

It's been 23 months...

[Birger]

Hehe..now now Victor, don't be jumping the gun, one more month yet...


Birger

[MatsP]

It's over 24 months now, and we still seem to have more than 2 species... ;)

--
Mats

[bekateen]

Following this is like watching a person put a dog-treat on the tip of a dog's nose, and telling the dog not to eat it yet... Wait for my command... (clicker sound)...

[Birger]

I say if it is good enough for Catalog of Fishes it is good enough for me. It still shows separate species.

Guys you may be waiting a long time for this to be officially resolved. My opinion is there is enough differences in the species put out by Retzger (2010) with A. senegali being a prime example. Most of what could be considered different species are from different water systems which also makes sense at least to me. One problem is people do not read far enough and many have grabbed onto the small measurements from the paper and listed in Planet (wishful thinking)... but yet many want to keep calling them all occidentalis. The only one I think stays smaller is A.senegali, so far anyway. Maybe there is a better way to explain the size thing on the page but I do not think most people look beyond the listed measurement when reading the data page.

I guess I am a splitter not a lumper...there, I have admitted it

Birger

[bekateen]

I guess I am a splitter not a lumper...there, I have admitted it

They say confession is good for the soul... Just let it out. You'll feel better when it's out in the open.

[Viktor Jarikov]

Birger, thank you for taking the time to explain your expert thinking. That's helpful to me and I am sure will be to many others. G-cats are somewhat popular and there is probably a dozen or two of people yearly that I refer to this thread.

[Jools]

Guys,

Has anyone got a PDF of this they can share? I'd like to check the species I've got some pics of.

http://www.mapress.com/j/zt/article/view/10010

Cheers,

Jools

[Lycosid]

Guys,

Has anyone got a PDF of this they can share? I'd like to check the species I've got some pics of.

http://www.mapress.com/j/zt/article/view/10010

Cheers,

Jools

I can get you one (after we finish Easter lunch here in the Eastern USA). I should have access to ZooTaxa through university databases.

[racoll]

Sent. Check your claroteid box @Jools

[Jools]

Many thanks!

Jools

[Viktor Jarikov]

The confusion over Auchenoglanis cats goes on, it seems, including what hobbyists get from the PCF Cat-eLog.

Just one recent example: https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/foru ... sh.739768/

[Viktor Jarikov]

My primitive end user "revision" of Auchenoglanidae, "recognizing" 5 species:

viewtopic.php?f=8&t=50343