| Chalceus epakros | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Characiformes |
| Family: | Chalceidae |
| Genus: | Chalceus |
| Species: | C. epakros |
| Binomial name | |
| Chalceus epakros Zanata & Toledo-Piza, 2004 | |
Chalceus epakros is a species of freshwater fish in the family Chalceidae, found in northern South America. It is a fairly recent addition to its genus, alongside the species C. guaporensis and C. spilogyros .
Chalceus epakros bears visual similarities to other members of the genus Chalceus , like metallic scales and a vivid red or pink caudal fin, though several differences help separate it from its congeners. It has a thin stripe laterally that reaches the caudal peduncle, as well as a longer and more pointed snout. [1] It may occasionally bear humeral spots (a spot above each pectoral fin), but they are rather indistinct, especially compared to the humeral spots of C. spilogyros . [2] Its fins are a mixture of hyaline and reddish-pink, as opposed to the bright-yellow pelvic fins of C. erythrurus . [3]
Chalceus erythrurus and C. macrolepidotus may occasionally bear a similar lateral stripe to C. epakros, but theirs are broader and more indistinct. [2] It is hypothesized to be related to mating habits, and may be more prominent around mating season. [4] C. epakros' stripe is composed of chromatophores closer to the surface than that of C. erythrurus and others. [1]
Chalceus epakros is incredibly visually similar to C. guaporensis , including a thin lateral stripe, a pointed snout, and the occasional indistinct humeral patch. [4] C. epakros and C. guaporensis are also alike in that they lack a fontanel (soft, membranous spot) on the head, while the other three species have one between the frontal and parietal bone. [4] However, C. guaporensis is slightly larger, and it has 7 pelvic fin rays as opposed to eight on C. epakros. [2] C. epakros is the smallest Chalceus species, reaching 17.4 cm TL (with the caudal fin included); C. guaporensis reaches that same length in SL (without the caudal fin). [5]
The specific name epakros is from Greek, and means "pointed at the end", in reference to the longer and more pointed snout; [1] compare Cryptocentrus epakros, the pointedfin shrimpgoby,
The genus name Chalceus comes from "chalkos", which is the Greek word for copper. [6] French biologist Georges Cuvier, who named the first member of Chalceus (C. macrolepidotus), named it this because the preserved specimen's scales were copper-colored ("sometimes golden") when preserved in alcohol, though its scales are silvery in life. [7] [8]
In the year 2004, Brazilian biologists Mônica Toledo-Piza and Angela M. Zanata performed a re-examination of the genus Chalceus, resulting in the nomination of not only C. epakros but its congeners C. guaporensis and C. spilogyros. [1] Upon study in 2005, C. epakros and C. guaporensis were determined to form a clade, accounting for their visual similarities, while C. spilogyros, C. erythrurus, and C. macrolepidotus share another. [4]
Previously, specimens of C. epakros had been misidentified as specimens of C. macrolepidotus and C. erythrurus; C. macrolepidotus (Cuvier) and C. erythrurus (Cope) are long-established members of the genus, having been named in 1818 and 1870, respectively. [9]
Like the rest of its genus, C. epakros is a freshwater fish from northern South America. [10] C. epakros has the widest distribution of all Chalceus species, inhabiting the Amazon basin, the Orinoco river, and the Essequibo river. [1] [6] Despite sharing a clade, C. epakros and C. guaporensis are not found in the same areas; this could either be due to competition between the species, or due to slight differences in environmental needs. [11]
Chalceus epakros and C. macrolepidotus are the only two Chalceus species known to occur in Guyana. [2]
Chalceus epakros seems to largely be an insectivore, targeting ants and wasps. In one study (Torrente-Vilara et al.), very few examined specimens had food material in their stomachs, making diet-mapping difficult. [11] This lines up with other, more thoroughly-studied Chalceus species, which target similar invertebrate spreads. [12] [13]
Behaviorally, C. epakros is lacking in data. Other members of the genus are active, fast-moving, and somewhat skittish. [14] [15]
Characidae, the characids or characins is a family of freshwater subtropical and tropical fish, belonging to the order Characiformes. The name "characins" is the historical one, but scientists today tend to prefer "characids" to reflect their status as a by and large monophyletic group at family rank. To arrive there, this family has undergone much systematic and taxonomic change. Among those fishes that remain in the Characidae for the time being are the tetras, comprising the very similar genera Hemigrammus and Hyphessobrycon, as well as a few related forms such as the cave and neon tetras. Fish of this family are important as food and also include popular aquarium fish species.
Chalceus is a genus of fish that inhabits freshwater habitats in South America. Members can be found in the Amazon and Orinoco basins, as well as in the Guianas and various tributaries of the former. It is the sole representative of the family Chalceidae.
Astyanax microschemos is a species of characid fish from Brazil. It belongs to the A. scabripinnis species complex and differs from other species outside it by having a lower number of branched anal fin rays and its shallow body depth being about 26.9-29.7 vs more than 35% of its standard length (SL). Compared to species of its own complex, it can be distinguished by the combination of its shallow body depth, and smaller interorbital width. The species name comes from the Greek mikroschemos, meaning "low stature", which refers to the shallow body depth of the animal.
Deuterodon pelecus is a species of characid fish from Brazil. It can be distinguished from other species by: its body depth ; its short and pointed snout smaller than the orbital diameter; and a reduced number of branched anal fin rays. D. pelecus also differs from members of its genus by its characteristic color pattern. It possesses a single humeral spot that is constricted to the region above the lateral line; at the same time it shows a conspicuous midlateral body stripe from opercle to the caudal fin base, an autapomorphy of this precise species. Other Deuterodon species have a humeral spot that is vertically or horizontally elongate and have the midlateral stripe becoming faint near that humeral spot. The species name is derived from the Greek pelekus, meaning "axe", referring to the pigmentation shape resulting from the adjoinment of the humeral spot with the midlateral stripe.
The pinktail chalceus, also called the pinktail characin, is a species of freshwater fish of the family Chalceidae found in South America. It is one of five fish in the genus Chalceus, and is the type species of the genus.
The tucan fish, also called the yellowfin chalceus, is a species of freshwater fish in the family Chalceidae. It is one of five species in the genus Chalceus, and was the second species to be described therein.
Chalceidae, the tucanfishes, is a family of freshwater fish first described by Henry Weed Fowler in the year 1958. It is a monotypic family, home only to the genus incertae sedisChalceus.
Chalceus guaporensis is a species of freshwater fish in the family Chalceidae that inhabits northern South America. Alongside C. epakros and C. spilogyros, it was added to the genus Chalceus in the year 2004.
Chalceus spilogyros, sometimes misspelled as Chalceus spilogyrus, is a species of freshwater fish in the family Chalceidae that inhabits northern South America. It is a relatively new member of the genus Chalceus, along with C. epakros and C. guaporensis.
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 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. Like all members of Iguanodectidae, it inhabits rivers in the upper half of South America.
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 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.
Bryconops munduruku is a small freshwater fish of the family Iguanodectidae that lives in the rivers of South America. Its adipose fin is black, with a clear base, and it has two humeral spots, which is a feature it shares with few congeners. Its fins are a variety of yellow, red, black, and clear, and mature males have hooks on select fin-rays.
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.
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 hexalepis is a small iguanodectid fish from the rivers of Brazil. It is solely found in the drainage of the Rio Tocantins. Rather elongate and quite slender, it is considered one of the smaller species of its genus, with tall scales and large eyes.
Bryconops marabaixo is a small freshwater fish from the lower Amazon basin, native to the Rio Jari. It is small and silvery, with a dark-gray back, and its fins are mostly clear, though the caudal fin has a dark stripe on the lower margin of the dorsal lobe, and a spot of red pigment just above that. Like many other members of Bryconops, it has a humeral spot, which is a mark near each pectoral fin.
Bryconops rheoruber is a species of freshwater fish from the rivers of Brazil. Its back scales are tan-to-cream, and its belly is silvery; the divide between the two colors is marked by a broad iridescent-silver stripe. Its fins are a mixture of pale, clear, and reddish, which contributed to its specific name. "Rheo" means "flow" or "current" in Greek, and "ruber" means "red" in Latin.
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