Olivaichthys facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Olivaichthys |
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Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Siluriformes |
| Family: | Diplomystidae |
| Genus: | Olivaichthys Arratia, 1987 |
| Type species | |
| Diplomystes viedmensis MacDonagh 1931
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Olivaichthys is a group of fish known as velvet catfish. These fish are special because they are found only in Argentina. When a plant or animal is found in just one specific place, it's called "endemic."
Scientists are still studying Olivaichthys. Some researchers think it might actually be the same group as another fish called Diplomystes. This is because they look very similar and a special test (called a molecular analysis) shows they are closely related. These two fish groups live on different sides of the Andes mountains. It would be unusual for them to be so similar if they had only recently become separate groups, given the large mountain range between them. This is why scientists are still debating if Olivaichthys should be considered its own unique group of fish.
Types of Olivaichthys Fish
There are three known types, or species, of Olivaichthys fish:
- Olivaichthys cuyanus (Ringuelet, 1965)
- Olivaichthys mesembrinus (Ringuelet, 1982)
- Olivaichthys viedmensis (MacDonagh, 1931) (Otuno)
