Astyanax angustifrons

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Astyanax angustifrons
Astyanax angustifrons illustration (1906).jpg
1906 illustration
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Characiformes
Family: Characidae
Genus: Astyanax
Species:
A. angustifrons
Binomial name
Astyanax angustifrons
Regan, 1908

Astyanax angustifrons, sometimes referred to as the Campeche tetra, is a small freshwater fish from the rivers of Central and South America. It has a healthy distribution across southern Mexico and northern Guatemala, and is relatively common within its native range. Details regarding its diet and behavior are sparse, but it lives in areas with plentiful riparian vegetation, and most other members of the genus are omnivorous. Its habitat includes places affected by pollution and human activity; nonetheless, it is not endangered.

Contents

Astyanax angustifrons was once synonymized with congener Astyanax aeneus based on similarity, but this is not accepted by modern ichthyologists. A. angustifrons is also similar to congener A. mexicanus in coloration and several aspects of shape, though it has a shorter snout; this is potentially the origin of its specific epithet, as "angustus" means "narrow" and "frons" means "face".

Taxonomy

Astyanax angustifrons was described in 1908 by British ichthyologist Charles Tate Regan. Regan originally gave it the name Tetragonopterus angustifrons, but this is no longer accepted. [2] It was momentarily considered synonymous with congener Astyanax aeneus , but Mexican ichthyologist Juan J. Schmitter-Soto redescribed the species in 2017 and moved it to the genus Astyanax , where it remains. [1] [3]

There are three subgenera within the genus Astyanax: Astyanax stricto sensu , Poecilurichthys, and Zygogaster. [4] A. angustifrons is considered a member of the first based on the fact that it has a complete predorsal series of scales, making its full scientific name Astyanax (Astyanax) angustifrons. [3]

Etymology

Astyanax angustifrons has a scientific name in which all allusions are unexplained in the original texts, but whose meanings can be inferred by modern etymologists. Astyanax is a character in Homer's Iliad, a Trojan warrior, and its use as a scientific name is likely in reference to the large, armor-like scales of the type species A. argentatus. (A. argentatus is largely considered a junior synonym of A. mexicanus by modern taxonomists, [5] though some classify it as a valid species called the Texan tetra.) [6] "Angustus" means "narrow" and "frons" means "front" or "face", which is possibly in reference to the smaller snout in comparison to A. mexicanus. [7]

In terms of a common name, A. angustifrons is sometimes referred to as the Campeche tetra. [1] [8] This is due to one of its locales, the Río Mamantel, being located in the Mexican state of Campeche. [9]

Description

Astyanax angustifrons is usually within the range of 23 cm (9 in) SL (standard length). [10] It has 34 to 38 scales in the lateral line, 11 dorsal-fin rays, and 26 to 29 anal-fin rays; the origin of the dorsal fin is behind the base of the ventral fins. [11] The body is middlingly deep, ranging from 27 to 40% SL, and the head is relatively long, from 22 to 37% SL. [3] There is no known sexual dimorphism.

The body of A. angustifrons is olivaceous or dark gray on the back and silver below. It has an inconspicuous humeral spot and a bluish-silver lateral stripe. In coloration, it strongly resembles congener A. mexicanus. [11] There is a dark blotch on the caudal peduncle. [12] The fins vary in color, with touches of red towards the front of the anal and pelvic fins and a yellow caudal fin. The rest of the fins are largely clear. [3]

When preserved in alcohol, the entire body turns brassy or yellowish, and the humeral and caudal-peduncle spots are no longer evident, though the lateral stripe remains lighter than the surrounding scales. [13]

Distribution and habitat

Rio San Pedro, one of the habitats of A. angustifrons Peten Department, Guatemala - panoramio.jpg
Río San Pedro, one of the habitats of A. angustifrons

The type locality is uncertain, only described as somewhere in Mexico in the nominal text, [3] [11] but future specimens from Guatemala broadened this range. [14] Currently, A. angustifrons is known to be common in Mexico and Guatemala, with a fairly wide distribution. [1]

Specific locales in Guatemala include the Arroyo Subín and the Río San Pedro. In Mexico, they include the Río Champotón, Río Mamantel, and Río Ulumán. [14] One of these, the Mamantel, flows into a large lagoon known as Laguna de Términos. [15]

Details regarding specific habitat needs are sparse; however, information regarding particular locations can convey where A. angustifrons prefers to live. For example, the Arroyo Subín (sometimes called the Rio El Subín) has plentiful riparian vegetation along several stretches of riverbank, potentially a food source for the aquatic wildlife. [16] The Rio Champotón is somewhat similar, with some mangrove swamps downstream and medium perennial rainforest in the majority of the rest of the basin. [17]

Diet and ecology

Little has been published regarding how A. angustifrons interacts with its environment, but some of its preferences can be discerned from the origins of collected specimens, which are often in waterways with relatively high riparian zone health. Other members of the genus in areas of healthy riparian vegetation consume plentiful allochthonous material; examples include Astyanax altiparanae and Astyanax abramis , both of which are omnivorous and adaptable. [18] [19] Given its range and genus, A. angustifrons potentially has similar feeding patterns.

Conservation status

The IUCN considers A. angustifrons a species of least concern. Its distribution is fair, and while it does occasionally face threats from various invasive species and from pollutants like oil, these threats are localized, and it remains common and widespread. [1] One of its habitats, the San Pedro River, is a part of a protected region in Guatemala, the Laguna del Tigre National Park, which offers it an extra buffer. [20]

One example of pollution is the Rio El Subín, which is part of the Grijalva–Usumacinta watershed. Due to human activity like waste disposal and bathing, as well as contamination from plastics and pesticides, it is considered a highly polluted waterway. [21]

Related Research Articles

<i>Astyanax</i> (fish) Genus of fishes

Astyanax is a genus of freshwater fish in the family Characidae of the order Characiformes. Some of these fish, like many of their relatives, are kept as aquarium pets and known collectively as tetras. With around 150 described species and new ones being described yearly, this genus is among the largest of the entire order; Hyphessobrycon also has more than 145 species and which one is larger at any one time depends on whether more species have been recently described in one or the other. The blind and colorless cave tetra of Mexico is a famous member of the genus, but its taxonomic position is disputed: Some recognize it as part of the Mexican tetra and this is supported by phylogenetic evidence, but others recognize the cave form as a separate species, A. jordani.

<i>Astyanax argentatus</i> Species of fish

Astyanax argentatus is a small freshwater fish native to northern Central America and southern North America. Given its native range, it is also known as the Texan tetra. Little has been published regarding the feeding habits or behavior of A. argentatus, but it is known to have the northernmost distribution of any member of the genus Astyanax.

<i>Astyanax abramis</i> Species of fish

Astyanax abramis is a small freshwater fish from the inland rivers of South America. It is plentiful in almost the entire continent, with a habitat including the La Plata, upper Amazon, and Meta River basins. The body shape is subrhomboidal and laterally compressed, and the scales are largely silver, with a blue or green tint on the dorsal side.

<i>Astyanax acatlanensis</i> Species of fish

Astyanax acatlanensis, sometimes called the Acatlán tetra, is a small species of fish from the rivers of Mexico. It is a relatively hardy species that is able to tolerate a variety of water conditions, but is only found in freshwater, never brackish or marine. It is known only from the Río Acatlán, which is its type locality, and the Río Jía, which is a small, unknown river in the Oaxaca region.

<i>Astyanax aeneus</i> Species of fish

Astyanax aeneus, the banded tetra, is a small species of fish native to southern Central America and northern South America. It can be found in a variety of environments, including lakes, rivers, ponds, and slightly brackish locales like lagoons. As well as a varied habitat, it has a varied omnivorous diet: algae, seeds, leaves, insects, and fish fry appear to be the most common.

<i>Astyanax altior</i> Species of fish

Astyanax altior, the Yucatán tetra, is a small species of freshwater fish endemic to the Yucatán Peninsula of Mexico. It largely inhabits the cenotes of the region, and can tolerate water of limited salinity, though it largely prefers freshwater. Its diet includes plant matter and invertebrates, and there may be an element of cannibalism involved.

<i>Astyanax argyrimarginatus</i> Species of fish

Astyanax argyrimarginatus is a small species of freshwater fish native to various river basins in Brazil. Originally thought to be restricted to the Tocantins-Araguaia river system, a study in 2012 expanded its range to include the Rio Xingu, as well. Specific biotope preferences are unknown, but it is mostly collected from clearwater streams in fairly good health. Its relative abundance and presence in some protected locales means that it is not endangered.

<i>Astyanax asuncionensis</i> Species of fish

Astyanax asuncionensis is a small species of freshwater fish described in 1972 from Asunción, the capital of Paraguay in South America. Its specific epithet is in reference to this. Currently, its range is known to encompass areas of not just Paraguay but also Argentina and Brazil. It is an adaptable, omnivorous species that easily lives in sympatry with various congeners.

<i>Astyanax atratoensis</i> Species of fish

Astyanax atratoensis is a small freshwater fish that occupies the Atrato river basin in Colombia. Originally described from a tributary therein, the Truandó River, it gets its specific epithet from the region. Though it faces no imminent threats, A. atratoensis inhabits waterways with a history of severe environmental pressure in the form of anthropogenic pollution. Several restoration efforts have been undertaken in the relevant regions.

<i>Astyanax bacalarensis</i> Species of fish

Astyanax bacalarensis, sometimes referred to as the Bacalar tetra, is a small species of freshwater fish found in Central and South America. Its scientific and common names both refer to its type locality, Lake Bacalar in Mexico, and it further inhabits freshwater environments like cenotes, streams, and wetlands. Its widespread nature, paired with an omnivorous diet, make it a hardy species.

<i>Astyanax bagual</i> Species of fish

Astyanax bagual is a small species of freshwater fish known only from the Taquari-Antas river basin in southern Brazil. It is unusual in the genus Astyanax because mature male specimens display bony hooks on the rays of all fins; in opposition, most others have them on the anal, pelvic, or pectoral fins - sometimes on more than one of these, but very rarely on all fins. It can further be told apart from various congeners by way of dentition and some aspects of coloration, including the presence of two humeral spots instead of one.

<i>Astyanax baileyi</i> Species of fish

Astyanax baileyi is a small freshwater fish native to northern Guatemala. Based on several visual aspects, it was once considered a member of the genus Bramocharax, which is now obsolete, and has since been synonymized with Astyanax. As such, former members of Bramocharax are now a part of Astyanax, like Astyanax bransfordii and Astyanax caballeroi.

<i>Astyanax belizianus</i> Species of fish

Astyanax belizianus is a small freshwater fish native to various regions of Central America. Little is known of its diet or specific environmental preferences, but it was first recorded in Belize. Modern ichthyology has expanded its range into Guatemala and Honduras, where it inhabits various rivers and lake tributaries. It is a silvery fish that may have a slight yellowish tint to its scales. The body is deep, especially in comparison to similar species from the same genus.

<i>Astyanax bimaculatus</i> Species of fish

The twospot astyanax, also called the two-spot tetra, is a small species of freshwater fish native to South America. It is a middlingly common tetra in the aquarium industry, with hobbyist reports of its sale and presence, and it is also a well-studied member of the genus Astyanax in wild settings. Amateur aquarists report peaceful schooling behavior in captivity, though fish in wild schools may turn on one another if presented with the threat of a predatory species.

<i>Astyanax biotae</i> Species of fish

Astyanax biotae is a small species of freshwater fish native to various localities in Brazil. It primarily eats invertebrates, like copepods and aquatic fly larvae, and its diet also includes seeds, fruits, and filamentous algae. Its scales are largely silver, with a touch of yellow-brown on the back and a hint of blue on the sides. Like many species of Astyanax, it has a humeral spot, which is a blotch of pigmentation in the area above or around the pectoral fin.

Astyanax bransfordii, sometimes called the longjaw tetra, is a small carnivorous species of fish endemic to a handful of lakes and slow-moving canals in Central America. Its range includes Lake Nicaragua and Lake Managua, which are two of the largest freshwater bodies in Central America; because it occurs only in the relevant areas of Costa Rica and Nicaragua, the area it actually inhabits is somewhat restricted. Its diet largely consists of various invertebrates and smaller fish. This is in contrast to various other species of Astyanax, which are more often omnivorous.

<i>Astyanax brevimanus</i> Species of fish

Astyanax brevimanus, sometimes referred to as the Quiché tetra, is a small species of freshwater fish native to various locales in Guatemala. Its native range is somewhat restricted, but it is a populous and adaptable species, so there is no risk of it going extinct anytime soon. It is unknown what A. brevimanus eats, or what specific habitats it prefers; current information is largely in the form of physical descriptions, general areas of occurrence, and hypotheses regarding relationships to congeners. Its silvery scales, indistinct humeral (shoulder) spot, and dark caudal-peduncle spot are features not unusual in species of Astyanax.

<i>Astyanax caballeroi</i> Species of fish

Astyanax caballeroi is a small species of freshwater fish endemic to a single lake system in Mexico. It has a longer snout and more slender body than most other species in the genus Astyanax, thought to be the result of predatory behavior; while A. caballeroi eats invertebrates and smaller fish, other Astyanax species are more broadly omnivorous, and have deeper bodies with shorter snouts. This difference in body shape once placed A. caballeroi, along with several other species of Astyanax, into the former genus Bramocharax.

<i>Astyanax caucanus</i> Species of fish

Astyanax caucanus is a small species of freshwater fish only found in Colombia. While little research exists regarding its ecological habits, such as diet and mating practices, its environment preferences are known to include marshy lowlands, and it easily lives in sympatry with various other fish species in the Cauca and Magdalena river basins. It is not known to share a habitat with any other species of Astyanax, but has a noted phyletic relationship to a group of congeners including Astyanax filiferus, Astyanax stilbe, and Astyanax magdalenae.

<i>Astyanax clavitaeniatus</i> Species of fish

Astyanax clavitaeniatus is a small species of freshwater fish native to various rivers in the Amazon basin. It is characterized by a club-shaped lateral stripe, which is where it gets its scientific name; "clava" means "club", and "taenia" means "stripe". It is a deep-bodied fish with a silvery base color, which is not uncommon for members of Astyanax. Its markings - including a humeral spot and two vertical brown bars - indicate that it is a part of a species complex centered around congener Astyanax bimaculatus.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Schmitter-Soto, J. (2019). "Astyanax angustifrons". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2019: e.T132551767A132557416. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-2.RLTS.T132551767A132557416.en . Retrieved 13 April 2023.
  2. ↑ Bailly, Nicolas (2022). "Astyanax angustifrons (Regan, 1908)". WoRMS. World Register of Marine Species . Retrieved 13 April 2023.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Schmitter-Soto, Juan J. (26 June 2017). "A revision of Astyanax (Characiformes: Characidae) in Central and North America, with the description of nine new species". Journal of Natural History. 51 (23–24): 1331–1424. Bibcode:2017JNatH..51.1331S. doi:10.1080/00222933.2017.1324050. S2CID   90642754.
  4. ↑ Rossini, Bruno César; Oliveira, Carlos Alexandre Miranda; Melo, Filipe Augusto Gonçalves de; Bertaco, Vinicius de Araújo; Astarloa, Juan M. Díaz de; Rosso, Juan J.; Foresti, Fausto; Oliveira, Claudio (19 December 2016). "Highlighting Astyanax Species Diversity through DNA Barcoding". PLOS ONE. 11 (12): e0167203. Bibcode:2016PLoSO..1167203R. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0167203 . PMC   5167228 . PMID   27992537.
  5. ↑ Astyanax argentatus Baird & Girard, 1854 . Bailly, Nicolas. Retrieved through: World Register of Marine Species  on 2 March 2023.
  6. ↑ Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2023). "Astyanax Argentatus" in FishBase . April 2023 version.
  7. ↑ Scharpf, Christopher; Lazara, Kenneth J. (29 December 2022). "Order CHARACIFORMES: Family CHARACIDAE: Subfamily STETHAPRIONINAE (a-g)". The ETYFish Project. Retrieved 17 February 2023.
  8. ↑ "Astyanax angustifrons". Global Biodiversity Information Facility . Retrieved 13 April 2023.
  9. ↑ "Map of Río Mamantel, Campeche, N.D." dices.net. Directorio cartográfico de España y América. Retrieved 13 April 2023.
  10. ↑ Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2023). "Astyanax angustifrons" in FishBase . April 2023 version.
  11. 1 2 3 Godman, Frederick Du Cane; Horman-Fisher, Maud; Knight, H.; Salvin, Osbert; Saunders, G. S.; Schlereth, M. v.; Sharp, M. A.; Wilson, Edwin; Wulp, F. M. van der (1879). "Biologia Centrali-Americana :zoology, botany and archaeology". Biologia Centrali-Americana: 172. doi: 10.5962/bhl.title.730 . Retrieved 13 April 2023.
  12. ↑ Marinho, Manoela M. F.; Birindelli, José L. O. (March 2013). "Redescription of Astyanax multidens Eigenmann, 1908 (Characiformes: Characidae), a small characid of the Brazilian Amazon". Neotropical Ichthyology. 11 (1): 45–54. doi:10.1590/S1679-62252013000100005. hdl: 11449/74270 .
  13. ↑ BMNH 1857.7.31.9, SYNTYPES, Tetragonopterus angustifrons" - Tetragonopterus angustifrons Regan, 1908 collected in Mexico by The Trustees of the Natural History Museum, London (licensed under http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
  14. 1 2 Schmitter-Soto, Juan J. (6 May 2016). "A phylogeny of Astyanax (Characiformes: Characidae) in Central and North America". Zootaxa. 4109 (2): 101–130. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.4109.2.1. PMID   27394856.
  15. ↑ "Términos Lagoon". gulfbase.org. Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies. Retrieved 13 April 2023.
  16. ↑ Nørholm, David. "Riverbank area of the Río el Subin, Petèn, Guatemala". Biotope Aquarium Project. Retrieved 13 April 2023.
  17. ↑ López-López, Eugenia; Elías Sedeño-Díaz, J.; Romero, Faviel López; Trujillo-Jiménez, Patricia (June 2009). "Spatial and seasonal distribution patterns of fish assemblages in the Río Champotón, southeastern Mexico". Reviews in Fish Biology and Fisheries. 19 (2): 127–142. Bibcode:2009RFBF...19..127L. doi:10.1007/s11160-008-9093-y. S2CID   39656396.
  18. ↑ Viana, Lucilene Finoto; Suarez, Yzel Rondon; Lima-Junior, Sidnei Eduardo (18 December 2013). "Influence of environmental integrity on the feeding biology of Astyanax altiparanae (Garutti & Britski, 2000) in the Ivinhema river basin - doi: 10.4025/actascibiolsci.v35i4.19497". Acta Scientiarum. Biological Sciences. 35 (4): 541–548. doi: 10.4025/actascibiolsci.v35i4.19497 .
  19. ↑ Leite, Erica Ferreira; Godoi, Divina Sueide de; Jacyntho, Luiz Antonio; Maceno, Jhonathan Ferreira Santos; Duarte, Cristiane Regina do Amaral (2021). "FEEDING HABITS AND REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY OF ASTYANAX ABRAMIS/HÁBITO ALIMENTAR E BIOLOGIA REPRODUTIVA DE ASTYANAX ABRAMIS". Brazilian Journal of Development. 7 (1): 2582–2597. doi:10.34117/bjdv7n1-176. S2CID   234215105.
  20. ↑ "NP Laguna del Tigre". guatemala.wcs.org. Wildlife Conservation Society. Retrieved 13 April 2023.
  21. ↑ García, Ronaldo (8 December 2014). "Río El Subín, Petén". deguate.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 13 April 2023.
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