Luciobarbus
Encyclopedia
Luciobarbus is a somewhat disputed genus
of ray-finned fishes in the family
Cyprinidae. Its species
are mainly found around the Mediterranean region. Its type species
is the Mangar (L. esocinus), for which the genus was established by Heckel in 1843. The type species' scientific name essentially means "pike-like pike-barbel" (after the Northern Pike
, Esox lucius), though a more aliteral translation would be "pike-like wolf-barbel".
s, the present genus was long included in Barbus
. It appears to be a very close relative of the typical barbels – which include that genus' type species
, the Common Barbel (B. barbus) –, and may well warrant inclusion in Barbus. In fact, many modern authors prefer to consider it a subgenus
instead. It is, moreover, not entirely clear what species to place in Luciobarbus if it is deemed valid. The IUCN argues for a rather inclusive circumscription, while for example FishBase
recognizes far fewer species. The FishBase circumscription is not correct, however, as it does not include the type species
. Nonwithstanding the taxonomy
and systematics
of this ill-defined assemblage, their closest living relative is probably the Dalmatian Barbelgudgeon
(Aulopyge huegelii).
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
of ray-finned fishes in the family
Family (biology)
In biological classification, family is* a taxonomic rank. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, genus, and species, with family fitting between order and genus. As for the other well-known ranks, there is the option of an immediately lower rank, indicated by the...
Cyprinidae. Its species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
are mainly found around the Mediterranean region. Its type species
Type species
In biological nomenclature, a type species is both a concept and a practical system which is used in the classification and nomenclature of animals and plants. The value of a "type species" lies in the fact that it makes clear what is meant by a particular genus name. A type species is the species...
is the Mangar (L. esocinus), for which the genus was established by Heckel in 1843. The type species' scientific name essentially means "pike-like pike-barbel" (after the Northern Pike
Northern Pike
The northern pike , is a species of carnivorous fish of the genus Esox...
, Esox lucius), though a more aliteral translation would be "pike-like wolf-barbel".
Systematics
Like many other cyprinidCyprinid
The family Cyprinidae, from the Ancient Greek kyprînos , consists of the carps, the true minnows, and their relatives . Commonly called the carp family or the minnow family, its members are also known as cyprinids...
s, the present genus was long included in Barbus
Barbus
Barbus is a ray-finned fish genus in the family Cyprinidae. The type species of Barbus is the Common Barbel, first described as Cyprinus barbus and now named Barbus barbus...
. It appears to be a very close relative of the typical barbels – which include that genus' type species
Type species
In biological nomenclature, a type species is both a concept and a practical system which is used in the classification and nomenclature of animals and plants. The value of a "type species" lies in the fact that it makes clear what is meant by a particular genus name. A type species is the species...
, the Common Barbel (B. barbus) –, and may well warrant inclusion in Barbus. In fact, many modern authors prefer to consider it a subgenus
Subgenus
In biology, a subgenus is a taxonomic rank directly below genus.In zoology, a subgeneric name can be used independently or included in a species name, in parentheses, placed between the generic name and the specific epithet: e.g. the Tiger Cowry of the Indo-Pacific, Cypraea tigris Linnaeus, which...
instead. It is, moreover, not entirely clear what species to place in Luciobarbus if it is deemed valid. The IUCN argues for a rather inclusive circumscription, while for example FishBase
FishBase
FishBase is a comprehensive database of information about fish species . It is the largest and most extensively accessed online database on adult finfish on the web...
recognizes far fewer species. The FishBase circumscription is not correct, however, as it does not include the type species
Type species
In biological nomenclature, a type species is both a concept and a practical system which is used in the classification and nomenclature of animals and plants. The value of a "type species" lies in the fact that it makes clear what is meant by a particular genus name. A type species is the species...
. Nonwithstanding the taxonomy
Taxonomy
Taxonomy is the science of identifying and naming species, and arranging them into a classification. The field of taxonomy, sometimes referred to as "biological taxonomy", revolves around the description and use of taxonomic units, known as taxa...
and systematics
Systematics
Biological systematics is the study of the diversification of terrestrial life, both past and present, and the relationships among living things through time. Relationships are visualized as evolutionary trees...
of this ill-defined assemblage, their closest living relative is probably the Dalmatian Barbelgudgeon
Dalmatian Barbelgudgeon
The Dalmatian Barbelgudgeon is a ray-finned fish species in the family Cyprinidae. It is the only member of the monotypic genus Aulopyge. The genus name is derived from the Ancient Greek aulós + pygé , and thus means approximately "fluted tail-stem"...
(Aulopyge huegelii).
Species
Following Fishbase the genus contains:- Luciobarbus bocagei (SteindachnerFranz SteindachnerFranz Steindachner was an Austrian zoologist.- Work and career :Being interested in natural history, Steindachner took up the study of fossil fishes on the recommendation of his friend Eduard Suess...
, 1864) - Luciobarbus brachycephalus (KesslerKarl Fedorovich KesslerKarl Fedorovich Kessler was a German-Russian zoologist and author of zoological taxa signed Kessler, who was mostly active in Kiev, Ukraine and conducted most of his studies of birds in Ukrainian regions of the Russian Empire - Kiev Governorate, Volyn Governorate, Kherson Governorate, Poltava...
, 1872) (Aral barbel) - Luciobarbus capitoLuciobarbus capitoLuciobarbus capito is a species of ray-finned fish in the genus Luciobarbus. This species has a subspecies named Luciobarbus capito conocephalus....
(GüldenstädtJohann Anton GüldenstädtJohann Anton Güldenstädt was a Baltic German naturalist and explorer in Russian service....
, 1773) (Bulatmai Barbel) - Luciobarbus caspius (L. S. Berg, 1914) (Caspian Barbel)
- Luciobarbus comizo (SteindachnerFranz SteindachnerFranz Steindachner was an Austrian zoologist.- Work and career :Being interested in natural history, Steindachner took up the study of fossil fishes on the recommendation of his friend Eduard Suess...
, 1864) (Iberian Barbel) - Luciobarbus escherichii (SteindachnerFranz SteindachnerFranz Steindachner was an Austrian zoologist.- Work and career :Being interested in natural history, Steindachner took up the study of fossil fishes on the recommendation of his friend Eduard Suess...
, 1897) - Luciobarbus esocinus HeckelJohann Jakob HeckelJohann Jakob Heckel was an Austrian taxidermist, zoologist, and ichthyologist from Mannheim.Though not a formally trained zoologist he worked his way up through the ranks to eventually become the director of the Fish Collection at the Naturhistorisches Museum in Vienna...
, 1843 (Mangar) - Luciobarbus graecusLuciobarbus graecusLuciobarbus graecus is a ray-finned fish species in the family Cyprinidae. It is here placed in Luciobarbus following the IUCN, but that genus is very closely related to the other typical barbels and perhaps better considered a mere subgenus of Barbus. Found in and adjacent to Greece, its closest...
SteindachnerFranz SteindachnerFranz Steindachner was an Austrian zoologist.- Work and career :Being interested in natural history, Steindachner took up the study of fossil fishes on the recommendation of his friend Eduard Suess...
, 1896 - Luciobarbus graellsii (SteindachnerFranz SteindachnerFranz Steindachner was an Austrian zoologist.- Work and career :Being interested in natural history, Steindachner took up the study of fossil fishes on the recommendation of his friend Eduard Suess...
, 1866) (Ebro Barbel) - Luciobarbus guiraonis (SteindachnerFranz SteindachnerFranz Steindachner was an Austrian zoologist.- Work and career :Being interested in natural history, Steindachner took up the study of fossil fishes on the recommendation of his friend Eduard Suess...
, 1866) - Luciobarbus kersin (HeckelJohann Jakob HeckelJohann Jakob Heckel was an Austrian taxidermist, zoologist, and ichthyologist from Mannheim.Though not a formally trained zoologist he worked his way up through the ranks to eventually become the director of the Fish Collection at the Naturhistorisches Museum in Vienna...
, 1843) - Luciobarbus kosswigi (M. S. Karaman, 1971)
- Luciobarbus kottelatiLuciobarbus kottelatiLuciobarbus kottelati is a species of ray-finned fish in the genus Luciobarbus....
Turan, Ekmekçi, İlhan & Engin, 2008 - Luciobarbus lydianusLuciobarbus lydianusLuciobarbus lydianus is a species of ray-finned fish in the genus Luciobarbus....
(BoulengerGeorge Albert BoulengerGeorge Albert Boulenger FRS was a Belgian-British zoologist who identified over 2000 new animal species, chiefly fish, reptiles and amphibians.-Life:...
, 1896) - Luciobarbus microcephalus (Almaça, 1967)
- Luciobarbus mursaLuciobarbus mursaLuciobarbus mursa is a species of ray-finned fish in the genus Luciobarbus....
(GüldenstädtJohann Anton GüldenstädtJohann Anton Güldenstädt was a Baltic German naturalist and explorer in Russian service....
, 1773) (Mursa) - Luciobarbus mystaceus (PallasPeter Simon PallasPeter Simon Pallas was a German zoologist and botanist who worked in Russia.- Life and work :Pallas was born in Berlin, the son of Professor of Surgery Simon Pallas. He studied with private tutors and took an interest in natural history, later attending the University of Halle and the University...
, 1814) - Luciobarbus pectoralisLuciobarbus pectoralisLuciobarbus pectoralis is a species of ray-finned fish in the genus Luciobarbus....
(HeckelJohann Jakob HeckelJohann Jakob Heckel was an Austrian taxidermist, zoologist, and ichthyologist from Mannheim.Though not a formally trained zoologist he worked his way up through the ranks to eventually become the director of the Fish Collection at the Naturhistorisches Museum in Vienna...
, 1843) - Luciobarbus sclateri (Günther, 1868) (Andalusian Barbel)
- Luciobarbus steindachneri (Almaça, 1967)
- Luciobarbus xanthopterus HeckelJohann Jakob HeckelJohann Jakob Heckel was an Austrian taxidermist, zoologist, and ichthyologist from Mannheim.Though not a formally trained zoologist he worked his way up through the ranks to eventually become the director of the Fish Collection at the Naturhistorisches Museum in Vienna...
, 1843