Kneriidae Explained

The Kneriidae are a small family of freshwater gonorhynchiform fishes native to sub-Saharan Africa.

The species in this family typically live in fast-flowing streams, often in highlands, and are small fish, no more than in length. The second subfamily Phractolaeminae contains only a single species, which typically inhabits stagnant or slow-moving waters and reaches up to in length. All Kneriidae have an elongated body shape. Some species are sexually dimorphic, with the male possessing a rosette on the gill covers that is absent in the females. Other species are neotenic, retaining larval features into adulthood.^[1]

Classification

There are about 31 extant (living) species in four genera. Phractolaemidae is now regarded as a full family.^{[2] [3]}

Genera

• Cromeria Boulenger, 1901
• Grasseichthys Géry, 1964
• Kneria Steindachner, 1866
• Parakneria Poll, 1965

In addition, the family includes the genus Mahengichthys, which only is known from Eocene fossil remains and is closer to Kneriinae than Phractolaemidae.^{[3] [4]}

Notes and References

1. Book: Paxton, J.R. . Eschmeyer, W. N.. Banister, Keith F.. 1998. Encyclopedia of Fishes. Academic Press. San Diego. 97. 0-12-547665-5.
2. Book: Eschmeyer . W.N. . William N. Eschmeyer . Grande . T. . Grande . L. . 2010 . A Nomenclatural Analysis of Gonorynchiform Taxa . Gonorynchiformes and Ostariophysan Relationships . 567–587 . 10.1201/b10194-14 . 978-0-429-06156-1 .
3. Near . T.J. . Dornburg . A. . Friedman . M. . 2014 . Phylogenetic relationships and timing of diversification in gonorynchiform fishes inferred using nuclear gene DNA sequences (Teleostei: Ostariophysi) . Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution . 80 . 297–307 . 10.1016/j.ympev.2014.07.013 . 2014MolPE..80..297N .
4. Book: Davis . M.P. . Arratia . G. . Kaiser . T.M. . 2013 . The first fossil shellear (Gonorynchiformes: Kneriidae) from the Eocene lake of Mahenge (Tanzania) . Mesozoic Fishes 5 - Global Diversity and Evolution . 325–362 . F. Pfeil . 978-3-89937-159-8 .