''Trichogenes'' is a

genus Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family (taxonomy), family as used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In bino ...

of pencil catfishes. It is currently the only genus within the

subfamily In biological classification, a subfamily (Latin: ', plural ') is an auxiliary (intermediate) taxonomic rank, next below family but more inclusive than genus. Standard nomenclature rules end botanical subfamily names with "-oideae", and zo ...

''Trichogeninae''. A third species, ''T. beagle'', was described in 2020 from archival material of unknown origin. The occurrence of the new species in the wild is unknown.

Etymology

The name ''Trichogenes'' is composed of the words 'Tricho', referring to its

family Family (from ) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). It forms the basis for social order. Ideally, families offer predictabili ...

, the

Trichomycteridae Trichomycteridae is a family of catfishes commonly known as pencil catfishes or parasitic catfishes. This family includes the candiru fish (''Vandellia cirrhosa''), feared by some people for its alleged habit of entering into the urethra of ...

, and 'genes', referring to the genus '' Helogenes'' due to its superficial resemblance to the latter.

Distribution

''Trichogenes'' species are

endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found only in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also foun ...

Brazil Brazil, officially the Federative Republic of Brazil, is the largest country in South America. It is the world's List of countries and dependencies by area, fifth-largest country by area and the List of countries and dependencies by population ...

Species

There are currently three recognized species in this genus: * '' Trichogenes beagle'' * '' Trichogenes claviger'' de Pinna, Helmer, Britski & Nunes, 2010 * ''

Trichogenes longipinnis ''Trichogenes longipinnis'' (the long-finned cambeva), is a species of catfish (order Siluriformes) of the family Trichomycteridae. ''T. longipinnis'' is endemic to coastal streams in the Atlantic forest between Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo Sta ...

'' Britski & Ortega, 1983

References

Trichomycteridae Pencil catfish of Brazil Endemic fish of Brazil Freshwater fish genera Catfish genera Taxa named by Heraldo Antonio Britski Taxa named by Hernán Ortega {{Trichomycteridae-stub