Bryconops magoi

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Bryconops magoi
Bryconops magoi paratype.png
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Characiformes
Family: Iguanodectidae
Genus: Bryconops
Species:
B. magoi
Binomial name
Bryconops magoi

Bryconops magoi is a small species of fish from South America. It is only found in Venezuela, along with sister species Bryconops collettei . Its tail-fin markings help to differentiate it from various congeners, as does its fairly restricted range. It is most closely related to B. collettei and Bryconops caudomaculatus , and it was once considered synonymous with the latter; specimens of B. magoi and B. collettei both were routinely misidentified as B. caudomaculatus before being given species distinction.

Contents

Description

B. magoi has a maximum size within the range of 7.0 cm (2.8 in), which places it to the smaller side of the genus Bryconops as a whole. [1] [2] Its caudal fin (tail fin) bears a rather diffuse ocellus (eyespot), the upper half of which is colored red; this is a similarity it shares with B. collettei. [3] This eyespot is not well-defined, but is clear against the dark coloration of the caudal fin overall (which is dense in melanophores). Its scales are overall metallic or gray towards the back, becoming more silvery towards the belly, and it has a lateral line stripe in three colors; the base is a black band with a silver stripe beneath, finished with an iridescent-yellow line. [4]

Bryconops caudomaculatus and Bryconops collettei both bear multiple similarities to Bryconops magoi, but there are various ways to tell them apart. One of these is the pored lateral line scales, which stop at the hypural plate and do not extend onto the caudal fin itself in B. caudomaculatus; In B. magoi, they extend two to three scales beyond that point. [3] (This is a diagnostic aspect that B. magoi shares with B. collettei.) [1] B. magoi and B. collettei are similar in many ways as well, such as coloration (though more green in B. collettei), [4] but their varying body shapes make them dissimilar enough to tell apart. Such aspects include a longer snout (a mean of 6.8% of the body length in magoi vs. 4.7% in collettei) and a shorter spine (modally 41-42 vertebrae in magoi vs. 42-43 in collettei). [1]

Taxonomy

Bryconops magoi, along with congener Bryconops collettei, was first described in a study in 2005. [5] Said study also contained a redescription of Bryconops caudomaculatus, due to the species' generally enigmatic nature. Its full scientific name is Bryconops (Bryconops) magoi, as it is a part of the subgenus Bryconops (as opposed to the other subgenus in Bryconops, Creatochanes). It is considered a part of the Bryconops caudomaculatus species complex because of morphological similarities and a history of synonymy therein. [4]

Bryconops magoi, as with the rest of Bryconops, was once considered a characin, or member of the family Characidae. However, research in 2011 by Oliveira et al. moved the genera Bryconops, Piabucus , and Iguanodectes into the family Iguanodectidae, which is where B. magoi currently stands. [6] (Within Iguanodectidae, Bryconops is its own monotypic clade, whereas Piabucus and Iguanodectes make up the subfamily Iguanodectinae). Bryconops is still listed as a member of Characidae by some sources, such as Animal Diversity Web. [7]

The specific epithet "magoi" pays homage to Francisco Mago-Leccia, who is referred to in the nominal study as the “pioneer of modern ichthyological studies in Venezuela”. [4] [8] There are no common names currently accepted for B. magoi, [9] though "Mago's tetra" has been suggested as an extension of the species's namesake.

Habitat and ecology

Bryconops magoi is found only in Venezuela, with a fairly restricted range. All paratypes were collected from the type locality: the Rio Moquete at Paso Bajito, which is located in the Francisco de Miranda Municipality, in the Venezuelan state of Anzoátegui. [5] This is just north of the Orinoco river, the largest river in Venezuela. It demonstrates a preference for fast-moving water over sandy substrate, and is most often found swimming close to the surface, schooling with other species of fish. [1] It is not often taken from the wild for the aquarium trade, and is not considered at risk of population depletion therein. [10] It has not been evaluated by the IUCN. [1]

In demonstrating a preference for a blackwater habitat (many rivers in the Orinoco basin are blackwater), B. magoi also demonstrates that it does not have high-oxygen needs. Microbial activity is responsible for blackwater conditions, and microbes consume a large percentage of available dissolved oxygen in the process of decay (and said decay releases dark-colored tannins into the environment). [11] [12] Thus, fish with high-oxygen needs are not suited to blackwater environments, which are low-oxygen by way of the processes that characterize them.

Diet

Cursory examination shows that B. magoi feeds at the surface of the water, largely targeting insects that fall in from trees hanging above. [1] This is a similarity it shares with congener B. inpai , which also has a taste for terrestrial insects and other invertebrates that originate outside of the river system. [13] The rest of Bryconops is also largely composed of invertivores, though some are noted herbivores. [14]

Related Research Articles

<i>Bryconops</i> Genus of fishes

Bryconops is a genus of freshwater fish in the family Iguanodectidae from South America. It consists of small fish, all under half-a-foot long, with slender bodies and silvery scales, though there is some mild color variation. Several species can be identified by way of a humeral patch, and others have a reddish ocellus, or eyespot, on one or both lobes of the dorsal fin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Iguanodectidae</span> Family of fish

Iguanodectidae is a family of freshwater fish in the order Characiformes that lives in South America. It is home to the subfamily Iguanodectinae and the monotypic Bryconops clade. Several species in the family, such as the green line lizard tetra, the tailspot tetra, and the orangefin tetra, are sometimes taken as aquarium fish.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Orangefin tetra</span> Species of fish

The orangefin tetra is a small species of freshwater fish from South America that belongs to the family Iguanodectidae. Though common in its native range, it seems to prefer fast-flowing and shallow creeks. It is an active swimmer that feeds on plant material and various invertebrates, sometimes jumping out of the water to catch prey above the surface.

<i>Bryconops alburnoides</i> Species of fish

Bryconops alburnoides is a small freshwater fish, approximately 6 inches long at its largest, that lives in the rivers of South America. It has a slender body, with a yellowish dorsal fin and yellow-tinged back scales that fade into silver on its belly. It is largely an insectivore that picks land-dwelling insects from the riverbanks, though it eats much more whenever rain washes prey into the water.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tailspot tetra</span> Species of fish

The tailspot tetra is a freshwater fish that lives in the coastal river regions of upper South America. Both its common and scientific names reference the distinct spot of color present on the tail fin, which is one of its defining characteristics. It is a small fish, reaching 4.8 in at its longest. Despite its small size, it is an active swimmer, with a preference for fast-flowing waters.

Bryconops colanegra is a small, slender-bodied species of freshwater fish from South America, about 3.5 in long. It has a black tail fin that bears hints of red, and its scales are dark along the back, transitioning to a silver belly. It is endemic to a single river system in Venezuela, the Rio Caroní.

<i>Bryconops colaroja</i> Species of fish

Bryconops colaroja is a small species of fish endemic to tributaries and creeks of the Cuyuni River basin in Venezuela. The specific epithet "colaroja" means "red tailed", and it gets this name from its most distinctive feature - a deep red caudal fin, largely unique amongst members of its genus.

<i>Bryconops collettei</i> Species of fish

Bryconops collettei is a small freshwater fish from the rivers of South America. It is mostly silvery, with notable green iridescence on its sides, and a diffuse ocellus (eyespot) on the upper lobe of the caudal fin. Before its distinction as a separate species, specimens of B. collettei were misidentified as specimens of Bryconops caudomaculatus due to several morphological similarities, including a caudal ocellus and generally similar fin coloration.

Bryconops disruptus is a small freshwater fish of the family Iguanodectidae. It is only found in the Rio Negro in South America. Like the rest of the genus Bryconops, B. disruptus is silvery in color, with a relatively deep chest and a notable set of teeth. The specific epithet "disruptus" refers to the incomplete lateral line.

Bryconops durbinae, sometimes listed under the name Bryconops durbini, is a small species of freshwater fish in the family Iguanodectidae. It is the smallest species of the genus Bryconops, and is endemic to the Tapajós river basin in Brazil.

<i>Bryconops giacopinii</i> Species of fish

Bryconops giacopinii is a mid-sized species of freshwater fish in the family Iguanodectidae. It is the largest member of the genus Bryconops, and is therefore difficult to confuse with any of its congeners. With a diet that consists largely of land-dwelling insects, it serves as an important link between the terrestrial and aquatic aspects of its native range.

Bryconops humeralis is a small freshwater fish distributed across northern South America. The name "humeralis" means "relating to the shoulder", in reference to the distinct humeral patches that the fish sports. It is slightly longer than average in terms of the genus Bryconops, though still firmly within the standard range, and is slightly more slender than is usual for its congeners.

Bryconops imitator is a small freshwater fish that lives in the rivers of South America. It is a small, silvery fish with a bright red tail fin that is known to eat invertebrates, like insects and freshwater zooplankton.

Bryconops inpai is a small freshwater fish native to the rivers of South America. It only lives in two particular river systems - the Casiquiare and Negro - which means that its range is restricted to the northern half of the continent. It has indistinct humeral spots, and is bluish-silver in life, which is unusual for members of Bryconops; they are more often plain silver or greenish-silver.

<i>Bryconops melanurus</i> Species of fish

Bryconops melanurus, sometimes called the tail-light tetra, is a small species of freshwater fish from South America that primarily preys on insects. It lives in small schools and is an active swimmer, which means that it requires open space in its habitat. Nonetheless, it does not demonstrate a strong preference for any one biotope within its native range.

<i>Bryconops piracolina</i> Species of fish

Bryconops piracolina is a small fish that inhabits the waters of Brazil. It is slender and silvery in color, like many fish in Bryconops, but can be distinguished from other members by way of its dorsal fin, which has a black patch of color extending up from the fin-base; congeners usually have light pigment in the dorsal fin, or a brighter color.

<i>Bryconops tocantinensis</i> Species of fish

Bryconops tocantinensis is a small freshwater fish from the rivers of Brazil. It has yellow-gold scales on its back and white scales on its belly, with a bright-silver stripe marking the divide between the two. It gets the name "tocantinensis" from its endemism to the upper Tocantins basin drainage - specifically, the Conceição River.

Bryconops vibex is a small freshwater fish from the rivers of Venezuela, known solely from the Rio Cataniapo. The body is slender, though with an element of sturdiness, and it has one humeral spot by each pectoral fin. It bears visual similarities to several congeners, but can be differentiated by way of many factors.

Bryconops allisoni is a species of freshwater fish known from the rivers of Brazil. It is a recent addition to the genus (2019), currently considered a member incertae sedis. Its name honors Antonio Machado-Allison, an ichthyologist responsible for a great deal of work on the genus Bryconops.

<i>Bryconops florenceae</i> Species of fish

Bryconops florenceae is a small freshwater fish that inhabits the rivers of South America. Comprehensive research is lacking due to B. florenceae being the most recently described of the genus, but researchers believe it to be a relatively widespread species. It is found throughout the Maroni, Mana, and Sinnamary river basins, which defines its range within Suriname and French Guiana.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2022). "Bryconops magoi" in FishBase . October 2022 version.
  2. ↑ Froese, Rainer and Pauly, Daniel, eds. (2022). Species of Bryconops in FishBase . October 2022 version.
  3. 1 2 "Bryconops magoi, Barry Chernoff & Antonio Machado-Allison, 2005". Plazi TreatmentBank. Plazi. Retrieved 28 October 2022.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Chernoff, Barry; Machado-Allison, Antonio (13 December 2005). "Bryconops magoi and Bryconops collettei (Characiformes: Characidae), two new freshwater fish species from Venezuela, with comments on B. caudomaculatus (Günther)". Zootaxa. 1094 (1): 23. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.1094.1.1. ISSN   1175-5334 – via Biotaxa.
  5. 1 2 "Bryconops magoi Chernoff & Machado-Allison, 2005". GBIF. Global Biodiversity Information System. Retrieved 28 October 2022.
  6. ↑ Oliveira, Claudio; Avelino, Gleisy S.; Abe, Kelly T.; Mariguela, Tatiane C.; Benine, Ricardo C.; Ortí, Guillermo; Vari, Richard P.; Corrêa e Castro, Ricardo M. (December 2011). "Phylogenetic relationships within the speciose family Characidae (Teleostei: Ostariophysi: Characiformes) based on multilocus analysis and extensive ingroup sampling". BMC Evolutionary Biology. 11 (1): 275. doi: 10.1186/1471-2148-11-275 . PMC   3190395 . PMID   21943181.
  7. ↑ Myers, P.; Espinosa, R.; Parr, C. S.; Jones, T.; Hammond, G. S.; Dewey, T. A. "Bryconops magoi Classification". Animal Diversity Web. University of Michigan Museum of Zoology. Retrieved 28 October 2022.
  8. ↑ Scharpf, Christopher; Lazara, Kenneth J. (15 September 2020). "Order CHARACIFORMES: Families IGUANODECTIDAE, TRIPORTHEIDAE, BRYCONIDAE, CHALCEIDAE and GASTEROPELECIDAE". The ETYFish Project. Retrieved 22 October 2022.
  9. ↑ "Bryconops magoi Chernoff & Machado-Allison 2005". Encyclopedia of Life. Retrieved 28 October 2022.
  10. ↑ Fredberg, Joshua; McNeil, Dale (August 2010). Review of non-native ornamental fish species grey listed in Australia (PDF). West Beach, SA: SARDI Aquatic Sciences. ISBN   978-1-921563-35-5 . Retrieved 28 October 2022.
  11. ↑ Mehring, Andrew S.; Kuehn, Kevin A.; Tant, Cynthia J.; Pringle, Catherine M.; Lowrance, R. Richard; Vellidis, George (2014). "Contribution of surface leaf-litter breakdown and forest composition to benthic oxygen demand and ecosystem respiration in a South Georgia blackwater river". Freshwater Science. 33 (2): 377–389. doi: 10.1086/675507 . S2CID   85315129.
  12. ↑ "Hypoxic blackwater events and water quality". Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment. Australian Government. 2016. Retrieved 22 October 2022.
  13. ↑ Knöppel, Hans-armin; Junk, Wolfgang; Géry, Jacques (January 1968). "Bryconops (Creatochanes) Inpai, A New Characoid Fish From The Central Amazon Region, With A Review Of The Genus Bryconops". Amazoniana. 1 (3): 231–246. Retrieved 28 October 2022.
  14. ↑ Echevarría, Gabriela; González, Nirson (November 2018). "Fish taxonomic and functional diversity in mesohabitats of the River Kakada, Caura National Park, Venezuela". Nature Conservation Research. 3 (Suppl. 2). doi: 10.24189/ncr.2018.048 . Retrieved 20 October 2022.
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