FAMILY Details for Achiridae

Family Achiridae - American soles
Order	:	Pleuronectiformes
Class	:	Teleostei
No. in FishBase	:	Genera : 7 \| Species : 35 Eschmeyer's Catalog of Fishes
Environment	:	Fresh : Yes \| Brackish : Yes \| Marine : Yes
Division	:	Peripheral/diadromous
Aquarium	:	none
First Fossil Record	:	lower Tertiary lower Eocene	Ref. Berg, L.S. 1958
Remark	:	The Achiridae are saltwater and freshwater flatfishes with the eyes on the right side, body rounded or ovate in lateral view in most species, including fins, and elongate in Achiropsis nattereri, Apionichthys dumerili, and one undescribed species referred to Apionichthys. The eyed-side lower lip has a conspicuous, variously fringed fleshy rim which distinguish the species of this family from other sympatrical flatfishes. The lower lip is internally strengthened by a cartilaginous piece positioned laterally to dentary, the upper free half above the dentary dorsal margin; this cartilaginous piece, which is visible only by dissection or in cleared and stained preparations, is also present in other flatfish families, but clearly less developed than in achirids. The posterior nare forming a wide longitudinal slit above posterior end of upper lip, and hidden by lower lip when mouth is closed, is also a diagnostic external feature for achirids. A similar feature also appear in Soleidae, but it is never covered by lower lip; soleids do not occur in the Neotropics. The anterior nare is tubular as in some other flatfishes families. Margin of preopercle evidenced by a narrow naked area, particularly on its angle; this area is very narrow in adults and concealed by scales in juveniles of Soleonasus. Teeth villiform, organized in a patch and present on jaws only in the blind side, except for Hypoclinemus mentalis, which possesses teeth on jaws of both eyed and blind sides. Dorsal fin extends forward onto cranium up to anterior end of upper jaw, which is often covered by a fringed dermal flap projected from anterior end of this fin. In Achiropsis, Apionichthys, Pnictes, and Soleonasus the anterior end of dorsal fin and its corresponding supracranial area extend beyond and conceal anterior margin of mouth. Eyed-side pelvic fin united to anal fin by membrane; both pelvic fins enclosed in a single dermal envelope in Gymnachirus and Soleonasus, also united to anal fin by membrane; pelvic fins extend forward in Achiropsis, Apionichthys, Pnictes, and Soleonasus, the first pelvic-fin ray inserted just below ventral end of mandibular symphysis. Dorsal and anal fins free from caudal fin in most species, or united to caudal fin by a narrow membrane in Achiropsis, Apionichthys, and Pnictes. Pectoral fins often minute, present in one or both sides, or absent. Lateral line frequently ornamented with dermal processes or ramified tubes, particularly on head. Scales ctenoid, those of head external margin larger than the others on body, and a little turned to its center; scales are absent in Gymnachirus, except for remains of lateral line tubes on head and body. Medium size achirid species are 15 centimeters long, the largest species occurring in freshwater. They are carnivores, eating fishes and benthic invertebrates. Fully developed gonads were examined in specimens 2.5 centimeters SL, from a species which grow up to 12 centimeters. Common names of these fishes are American Sole (English), Lenguado (Spanish), Linguado (a general Portuguese word for Pleuronectiformes). In several Brazilian regions they are also known as Solha, Sôia, Sóia, Tapa or Aramaçá. Presently, nine genera and 28 species are recognized (Nelson, 1994). No recent revisional work is available. Chabanaud (1928) published a review of achirids, but it is not a comprehensive work. The achirid genera are presently being reviewed by the author, and synonymization of some genera and species will be proposed. Also, some species restricted to freshwater and referred to Apionchthys, and marine species referred to Trinectes and Achirus will be described. The assemblage that composes the family Achiridae was traditionally treated as part of the Soleidae, in subfamilial ranking. Jordan (1923) proposed familial ranking to that assemblage. This view was subsequently supported by Chabanaud in several papers (e.g. 1935, 1939), but not by Greenwood et al. (1966). Recently, Chapleau and Keast (1984) proposed the monophyly of the achirids based on five osteological cranial characters, but rejected the traditional view of a monophyletic Soleidae (Soleinae + Achirinae), previously supported by other authors. A cladistic study of intergeneric relationships, also in progress by the present author, detected eight new exclusive characters to support the monophyly proposed by Chapleau and Keast (1984) for the achirids. Achirids are mainly shore fishes restricted to both sides of Americas, including the subtropical, southern portion of Neartic region, and all the Neotropics, except for its extreme south. The genera Achiropsis, Apionichthys, Pnictes, and Soleonasus are restricted to freshwater in northern South American rivers, except for Apionichthys dumerili, which occurs in estuarine areas of the Orinoco, Corantjin, Oiapoque, Amazonas and Grajaú basins, also entering low lands freshwaters as do some other marine achirid species, and in marine areas under the influence of those rivers. Two species of Catathyridium are restricted to the Paraguay-Paraná, and Uruguay systems, and one species (C. garmani) occurs in estuarine and marine coastal areas of Southeastern Brazil, including Lagoa dos Patos, and coastal areas of Northern Uruguay. Some marine species of the genera Achirus and Trinectes occasionally enters freshwaters.
Etymology	:	Greek, acheir, -eiros = without hands ( Ref. 45335).
Reproductive guild	:	nonguarders
Typical activity level	:	normal
Main Ref.	:	Ramos, R.T.C. 2003
Coordinator	:	Ramos, R.T.C. 2003
Deep Fin Classification	:	Osteichthyes \| Actinopterygii \| Actinopteri \| Neopterygii \| Teleostei \| Osteoglossocephalai \| Clupeocephala \| Euteleosteomorpha \| Neoteleostei \| Eurypterygia \| Ctenosquamata \| Acanthomorphata \| Acanthopterygii \| Percomorphaceae \| Carangaria \| \| \| Pleuronectiformes \| Pleuronectoidei \| \| Achiridae

Species/Synonymy list for the family Achiridae as currently in FishBase

Important recommendation:

The list below must not be used as an authority reference synonymy list like those found in scientific published revisions, which must be the source to be used and cited eventually when they exist.

Rather, it reflects the current content of FishBase, and the progress with respect to synchronization with the Catalog of Fishes. However, we think it can be useful for users to assess the quality of information in FishBase, to start new work on the family, or to cross-check with other lists.

But we appreciate to be cited in publications when this list has been of any working value. In particular, for published scientific, we suggest then to cite it in the Material and Method section as a useful tool to conduct the research, but again, not as a taxonomic or nomenclatural authority reference.

Unless it is explicitly precised, the list is not complete, please search all original names published for the family in the Catalog of Fishes (genera, species), including those with uncertain or unknown status, that are not included in FishBase when they are not attached to a valid species.

This list uses some data from Catalog of Fishes (not shown but used to sort names).

The list ordered as follows:

When subfamilies are recognized, nominotypical subfamily first then other subfamilies by alphabetical order.
Type genus of the family first (or of subfamily when subfamilies are recognized) then other genera by chronological order of description (and alphabetical order).
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Scientifc name	Status	Senior/Junior synonym	Combination
Achirus achirus (Linnaeus, 1758)	accepted	senior	new
Pleuronectes achirus Linnaeus, 1758	synonym	senior	original
Monochirus lineatus Quoy & Gaimard, 1824	synonym	junior	original
Monochir punctifer Castelnau, 1855	synonym	junior	original
Achirus maculipinnis gunteri Chabanaud, 1940	synonym	junior	original
Achirus lineatus (Linnaeus, 1758)	accepted	senior	new
Pleuronectes lineatus Linnaeus, 1758	synonym	senior	original
Pleuronectes nigricans Bloch & Schneider, 1801	synonym	junior	original
Achirus scutum (Günther, 1862)	accepted	senior	new
Solea scutum Günther, 1862	synonym	senior	original
Achirus mazatlanus (Steindachner, 1869)	accepted	senior	new
Solea mazatlana Steindachner, 1869	synonym	senior	original
Achirus klunzingeri (Steindachner, 1880)	accepted	senior	new
Solea klunzingeri Steindachner, 1880	synonym	senior	original
Achirus zebrinus Clark, 1936	accepted	senior	original
Trinectes zebrinus (Clark, 1936)	synonym	senior	new
Achirus declivis Chabanaud, 1940	accepted	senior	change in rank
Achirus achirus declivis Chabanaud, 1940	synonym	senior	original
Achirus novoae Cervigón, 1982	accepted	senior	original
Achirus mucuri Ramos, Ramos & Lopes, 2009	accepted	senior	original
Trinectes maculatus (Bloch & Schneider, 1801)	accepted	senior	new
Pleuronectes maculatus Bloch & Schneider, 1801	synonym	senior	original
Achirus fasciatus Lacepède, 1802	synonym	junior	original
Trinectes fasciatus (Lacepède, 1802)	synonym	junior	new
Pleuronectes mollis Mitchill, 1814	synonym	junior	original
Trinectes scabra Rafinesque, 1832	synonym	junior	original
Trinectes inscriptus (Gosse, 1851)	accepted	senior	new
Monochirus inscriptus Gosse, 1851	synonym	senior	original
Trinectes fimbriatus (Günther, 1862)	accepted	senior	new
Solea fimbriata Günther, 1862	synonym	senior	original
Trinectes fonsecensis (Günther, 1862)	accepted	senior	new
Solea fonsecensis Günther, 1862	synonym	senior	original
Achirus fonsecensis (Günther, 1862)	synonym	senior	new
Solea panamensis Steindachner, 1876	synonym	junior	original
Trinectes paulistanus (Miranda Ribeiro, 1915)	accepted	senior	new
Achirus paulistanus Miranda Ribeiro, 1915	synonym	senior	original
Achirus affinis Steindachner, 1915	synonym	junior	original
Achirus austrinus Chabanaud, 1928	synonym	junior	original
Trinectes fluviatilis (Meek & Hildebrand, 1928)	accepted	senior	new
Achirus fluviatilis Meek & Hildebrand, 1928	synonym	senior	original
Trinectes microphthalmus (Chabanaud, 1928)	accepted	senior	new
Achirus microphthalmus Chabanaud, 1928	synonym	senior	original
Trinectes opercularis (Nichols & Murphy, 1944)	accepted	senior	new
Achirus opercularis Nichols & Murphy, 1944	synonym	senior	original
Trinectes xanthurus Walker & Bollinger, 2001	accepted	senior	original
Trinectes hubbsbollinger Duplain, Chapleau & Munroe, 2012	accepted	senior	original
Apionichthys dumerili Kaup, 1858	accepted	senior	original
Soleotalpa unicolor Günther, 1862	synonym	junior	original
Apionichthys unicolor (Günther, 1862)	synonym	junior	new
Apionichthys ottonis Steindachner, 1868	synonym	junior	original
Apionichthys nebulosus Peters, 1869	synonym	junior	original
Apionichthys bleekeri Horst, 1879	synonym	junior	original
Apionichthys nattereri (Steindachner, 1876)	accepted	senior	new
Solea nattereri Steindachner, 1876	synonym	senior	original
Achiropsis nattereri (Steindachner, 1876)	synonym	senior	new
Achiropsis normani Chabanaud, 1928	synonym	junior	original
Apionichthys finis (Eigenmann, 1912)	accepted	senior	new
Soleonasus finis Eigenmann, 1912	synonym	senior	original
Apionichthys menezesi Ramos, 2003	accepted	senior	original
Apionichthys rosai Ramos, 2003	accepted	senior	original
Apionichthys sauli Ramos, 2003	accepted	senior	original
Apionichthys seripierriae Ramos, 2003	accepted	senior	original
Gymnachirus nudus Kaup, 1858	accepted	senior	original
! Gynmachirus nudus Kaup, 1858	synonym	senior	original
Gymnachirus melas Nichols, 1916	accepted	senior	original
Gymnachirus texae (Gunter, 1936)	accepted	senior	new
Nodogymnus texae Gunter, 1936	synonym	senior	original
Pnictes asphyxiatus (Jordan, 1889)	accepted	senior	new
Achiropsis asphyxiatus Jordan, 1889	synonym	senior	original
Apionichthys asphyxiatus (Jordan, 1889)	synonym	senior	new
Catathyridium jenynsii (Günther, 1862)	accepted	senior	new
Solea jenynsii Günther, 1862	synonym	senior	original
Achirus jenynsii (Günther, 1862)	synonym	senior	new
! Achirus jenynsi (Günther, 1862)	synonym	senior	new
Achirus trichospilus Berg, 1895	synonym	junior	original
Achirus errans Miranda Ribeiro, 1915	synonym	junior	original
Catathyridium lorentzii (Weyenbergh, 1877)	accepted	senior	new
Achirus lorentzii Weyenbergh, 1877	synonym	senior	original
Hypoclinemus paraguayensis Chabanaud, 1928	synonym	junior	original
Catathyridium garmani (Jordan, 1889)	accepted	senior	new
Achirus garmani Jordan, 1889	synonym	senior	original
Catathyridium grandirivi (Chabanaud, 1928)	accepted	senior	new
Baeostoma grandirivi Chabanaud, 1928	synonym	senior	original
Hypoclinemus mentalis (Günther, 1862)	accepted	senior	new
Solea mentalis Günther, 1862	synonym	senior	original
Achirus hasemani Steindachner, 1915	synonym	junior	original