SCOTCAT.COM  

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS: The Lineage system

In 2005 the book Identifying Corydoradinae Catfish by Ian A. M. Fuller and Hans-Georg Evers (2005) was published and at that time little was known about the relationships among different species in the Callichthyidae as a whole and even less was known about the relationships among the Corydoradinae. This was changed in 2011 with the publication of the molecular phylogeny of the group: Evolution, Ecology and Taxonomy of the Corydoradinae revisited: Markos A Alexandrou & Martin I Taylor (2011), which was published in the follow up book in 2011, Identifying Corydoradinae Catfish Supplement 1.

A total of 200 preserved individuals, representing over 120 different species (including all mimetic taxa), were photographed and used for digital landmark-based morphometric analysis of body shape.

Below is the list of lineages (9) which are all in need of a taxonomic revision (Alexandrou et al., 2011).

Lineage 1. The basal 'saddle-nosed' species remain as Corydoras, as first described by Lacépède in 1803. C. geoffroy would remain the type species for the genus.

Lineage 2. This group would remain as Aspidoras (Ihering, 1907) with the designated type species A. rochai. All known Aspidoras belong to lineage 2 with the exception of A. pauciradiatus.

Lineage 3. All known Scleromystax belong to lineage 3 and thereeby this group would remain as Scleromystax (Günther, 1864) with the designated type species of S. barbatus.

Lineage 4. This lineage includes two of the dwarf species, and therefore we would suggest resurrection of the disused Microcorydoras (Myers, 1953), with the designated type species of C. hastatus.

Lineage 5. Contains species that have been known as the "elegans group" sensu Nijssen (Nijssen, 1970) with some additions and corrections. A revision could involve the resurrection of the genus name Gastrodermus (Cope, 1878), with the designated type species of C. elegans.

Lineage 6. Species within this group have always been classified under the genus Corydoras, with no synonymous disused generic names available. Thereby, it would be necessary to describe a new genus with a new type species.

Lineage 7. Comprises all species from the "aeneus group". A revision would involve the resurrection of the genus name Osteogaster (Cope, 1871), with the designated type species of C. eques.

Lineage 8. This lineage comprises mainly the "intermediate long-snouts"-the long-snouted but deep-bodied species, but also includes Brochis, that was recently synonymized with Corydoras (Britto, 2003). A revision would involve the resurrection of the name Brochis (Cope, 1871), with the designated type species of B. splendens. Furthermore, another three genera would have to be named for sub-clades within this species' rich lineage. Sub-clade1, Sub-clade2, Sub-clade3, and Sub-clade4.

Lineage 9. These are the classic "short-snouted" species. A revision would likely involve the resurrection of the name Hoplosoma (Agassiz, 1846), with the designated type species of C. punctatus.

To see all the species in their designated lineage visit the link here.

Reference: Ian A. M. Fuller & Hans-Georg Evers (2011). Identifying Corydoradinae Catfish Supplement 1. Ian Fuller Enterprises.
Alexandrou, Markos & Taylor, Martin. (2011). Evolution, ecology and taxonomy of the Corydoradinae revisited.