A redescription of deep-channel ghost knifefish, Sternarchogiton preto (Gymnotiformes: Apteronotidae), with assignment to a new genus

This dataset contains the digitized treatments in Plazi based on the original journal article Bernt, Maxwell J., Fronk, Aaron H., Evans, Kory M., Albert, James S. (2020): A redescription of deep-channel ghost knifefish, Sternarchogiton preto (Gymnotiformes: Apteronotidae), with assignment to a new genus. Neotropical Ichthyology (e 190126) 18 (1): e 190126, DOI: 10.1590/1982-0224-2019-0126, URL: dx.doi.org/10.1590/1982-0224-2019-0126 From a study of morphological and molecular datasets we determine that a species originally described as Sternarchogiton preto does not form a monophyletic group with the other valid species of Sternarchogiton including the type species, S. nattereri.

Previously-published phylogenetic analyses indicate that this species is sister to a diverse clade comprised of six described apteronotid genera. We therefore place it into a new genus diagnosed by the presence of three cranial fontanels, first and second infraorbital bones independent (not fused), the absence of an ascending process on the endopterygoid, and dark brown to black pigments over the body surface and fins membranes.