Cladus: Eukaryota Metaloricaria is a genus of catfishes (order Siluriformes) of the family Loricariidae. It includes two species, M. nijsseni and M. paucidens.[1] Taxonomy The phylogenetic position of Metaloricaria remains uncertain. Though classified in the tribe Harttiini in the subfamily Loricariinae, the length of the maxillary barbels (longer than in all other Harttiini), low number of teeth and their reduced size, reduction of the number of caudal-fin rays, and sexual dimorphism reminiscent of that seen in the Rineloricaria group, tend to support a closer relationship of Metaloricaria with the tribe Loricariini.[2] Distribution and habitat Metaloricaria is only known from the Guiana Shield in French Guiana and Surinam where the species occupy an ecological niche similar to that of Harttia. The species are rarely found in their natural environment and inhabit primarily streams over rocky and sandy substrates.[2] M. nijsseni occurs in Suriname, Saramacca, Nickerie, and Corantijn River basins.[3] M. paucidens is not an abundant species, inhabiting zones of rapids with strong illumination in the Oyapock, Sinnamary, and Marowijne River basins.[3] Description Sexual dimorphism includes hypertrophied development of odontodes arranged in brushes along the sides of the head and on the spine and rays of the pectoral fins in mature males. Females also possess such brushes along sides of the head, but do not seem to develop pectoral-fin enlarged odontodes.[2] Metaloricaria species grow to about 27–29.5 centimetres (10.6–11.6 in) SL.[4][4] References 1. ^ Ferraris, Carl J., Jr. (2007). "Checklist of catfishes, recent and fossil (Osteichthyes: Siluriformes), and catalogue of siluriform primary types" (PDF). Zootaxa 1418: 1–628. http://silurus.acnatsci.org/ACSI/library/biblios/2007_Ferraris_Catfish_Checklist.pdf.
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