Jan. 29, 2009 -- A newly identified catfish from tropical South America adroitly climbs rocks by grasping them with its tail and mouth, according to American Museum of Natural History officials and a paper published in American Museum Novitates. Since the world's only other catfish climbers are restricted to another remote region in the Andes, scientists now believe the two types of athletic fish share a common ancestor that could have once flourished in the upland streams of the Amazon and Orinoco river basins. With their suction-like mouths, the new catfish, Lithogenes wahari, can hold fast to substrates in their gushing water homes without expending much energy. These fish athletes are also nearly unstoppable by obstacles that might drown human and animal swimmers. Related Content: Get the Latest in Science and Tech News From Discovery Discovery News Blog: Born Animal Deep Sea Fish Use Mirrors to See How Stuff Works: Catfish "The ability to climb, both while under water and while on exposed rock, such as waterfalls, is likely an ability to move upstream in situations of high water velocities so as to maintain their occupancy of such habitats and even recolonize headwater stream regions following flood events, which tend to wipe out the aquatic fauna in places," co-author Scott Schaefer told Discovery News. When Schaefer, Curator of Ichthyology at the museum, first saw the fish, he thought "it looked like it was run over by a truck." His team plucked 84 specimens off of rocks in the Guyana Shield region of Venezuela, revealing that the unusual fish also has a nearly naked, meaning relatively unplated, body, which is odd for a member of the armored catfish family, called Loricariidae. The new species also lacks certain teeth in its upper jaw, perhaps to facilitate suction, as well as expected dermal teeth on its pelvic fin pad. Both of the known catfish climbers rock climb similar to the way a well-known insect moves. "In these two groups, both the mouth and the pelvic fins are used simultaneously to grasp and, via alternating grasp and release and by moving the pelvic fins forward and backward, these fishes can move and climb much like an inchworm," Schaefer explained. Further analysis of the fish by Schaefer and colleague Francisco Provenzano of Venezuela's Central University, determined that the new species bridges two catfish families. Despite its relative nakedness, L. wahari does possess bony plates on its head and tail, linking it to the armored catfish group. Get More NewsSpiders, Scorpions Among World's Oldest CreaturesMany creepy crawlies have been on Earth much longer than previously believed.Blood-Sucking Vampire Bats Sing DuetsWhite-winged vampire bats "harmonize" with separated roost mates.Oldest Hebrew Writing Possibly FoundAncient inscriptions on a 3,000-year-old pottery shard could make history.Rare, Prehistoric-Age Reptile Found in N.Z.A tuatara has been spotted on the New Zealand mainland for the first time in 200 years.Iceman Has No Living RelativesOetzi, the 5,300 year-old frozen mummy, left no living genetic legacy.SLIDE SHOW: Landscapes of TerrorWhat makes a place feel scary? There are scientific explanations.It's Official: People Are Warming the PolesHumans are conclusively to blame for polar warming, say scientists.Eight-Armed Animal Preceded DinosaursWhat may be one of Earth's first animals was no bigger than a coaster and had eight arms.Phoenicians Live on in People's GenesOne in 17 Mediterranean men may be descended from ancient Phoenicians.Pesticides, Fertilizers Linked to Frog DeclineA pesticide is found to promote parasites among amphibians.Hubble Telescope Taking Photos AgainThe Hubble Space Telescope is once again snapping stunning photos of the universe.Andean Mummy Hairs Show Hallucinogen UseScientists find direct evidence of hallucinogenic drug use among ancient Andeans.Opals on Mars Reveal Planet's Long Wet PastOpals found on Mars suggest the planet has been wet for much longer. |
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