Rhizosomichthys totae

Rhizosomichthys totae
Artist's image

Critically endangered, possibly extinct  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Siluriformes
Family: Trichomycteridae
Subfamily: Trichomycterinae
Genus: Rhizosomichthys
Miles, 1943
Species:
R. totae
Binomial name
Rhizosomichthys totae
(Miles, 1942)
Synonyms

Of Rhizosomichthys

  • Bathophilus Miles, 1942
  • Bathypygidium Whitley, 1947

Of Rhizosomichthys totae

  • Pygidium totae Miles, 1942
  • Trichomycterus totae (Miles, 1942)

Rhizosomichthys totae (sometimes known as greasefish[2] in English) is a species of catfish (order Siluriformes) of the family Trichomycteridae, and the only species of the genus Rhizosomichthys.[3] This fish grew to about 13.8 centimetres (5.4 in) and was endemic to Colombia where it occurred in the Lake Tota basin.[4] It is listed as a critically endangered (possibly extinct) species by the IUCN Red List.[1] The species was last seen in 1957, and only 10 specimens were found. The disappearance is possibly linked to the release of 100,000 imported rainbow trout eggs into Lake Tota in 1936.[5]

Specimens of R. totae are described as having eight rings of connective fat encircling the body and two large sections of fat tissue on the posterior part of the back and head. No other trichomycterid has comparable organization of adipose tissue.[6]

This species is listed on Re:wild's top 25 most wanted lost species and currently a search using environmental DNA (eDNA) by the organization of SHOAL to hopefully find this species.[7][8]

  1. ^ a b Mesa-Salazar, L.; Mojica, J. (2016). "Rhizosomichthys totae". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T19661A61472482. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-1.RLTS.T19661A61472482.en. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
  2. ^ Gene S. Helfman: Fish Conservation: A Guide to Understanding and Restoring Global Aquatic Biodiversity and Fishery Resources. Island Press, 2007 ISBN 1-55963-596-7
  3. ^ Ferraris, Carl J. Jr. (2007). "Checklist of catfishes, recent and fossil (Osteichthyes: Siluriformes), and catalogue of siluriform primary types" (PDF). Zootaxa. 1418: 1–628. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.1418.1.1.
  4. ^ Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Rhizosomichthys totae". FishBase. February 2012 version.
  5. ^ "New Campaign Aims to Rediscover Lost Fish Around the Globe". The Planetary Press. 2021-06-17. Retrieved 2023-01-06.
  6. ^ Schaefer, Scott A.; Fernández, Luis (2009-09-03). "Redescription of the Pez Graso, Rhizosomichthys totae (Trichomycteridae), of Lago de Tota, Colombia, and Aspects of Cranial Osteology Revealed by Microtomography". Copeia. 2009 (3): 510–522. doi:10.1643/CI-08-186. ISSN 0045-8511.
  7. ^ "https://twitter.com/Shoal_Org/status/1707312522745786439". X (formerly Twitter). Retrieved 2023-11-27. {{cite web}}: External link in |title= (help)
  8. ^ "Re:wild's Search for Lost Species". Re:wild. Retrieved 2023-11-27.