Head-and-taillight tetra

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Head-and-taillight tetra
Head-&-Tail-Light-Tetra.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Characiformes
Family: Acestrorhamphidae
Genus: Holopristis
Species:
H. ocellifera
Binomial name
Holopristis ocellifera
(Steindachner, 1882)
Synonyms [2]
  • Tetragonopterus ocellifer Steindachner, 1882
  • Hemigrammus ocellifer (Steindachner, 1882)

The head-and-tail light tetra (Holopristis ocellifer), also as the beacon fish or beacon tetra, is a species of freshwater ray-finned fish belonging to the family Acestrorhamphidae, the American characins. This species is found in South America. It is a popular species in the aquarium hobby.

Contents

Taxonomy

The head-and-taillight tetra was first formally described as Tetragonopterus ocellifer in 1882 by the Austrian ichthyologist Franz Steindachner with its type locality given as Villa Bella and Cudajas in Brazil. [2] In 1903 Carl H. Eigenmann proposed the new monospecific genus Holopristis with Tetragonopterus ocellifer as its only species, as well as being designated as its type species. This genus is classified in the subfamily Thayeriinae of the American characin family Acestrorhamphidae. [3] [4] This family is classified within the suborder Characoidei of the order Characiformes. [5]

Etymology

The head-and-taillight tetra is the type species of the genus Holopristis, this name combines holo, which means "all" or "whole", with pristis, meaning "sawyer", this probably alluudes to this species having teeth along the whole margin of the maxilla. The specific name, ocellifera, means "bearing an eye-spot or ocellus ", this may be an allusion to eye-like spot on the base of the caudal fin. [6]

Description

The head-and-taillight tetra has a maximum total length of 4.9 cm (1.9 in). [7] The overall colour of this species is a transluscent silver. There is a dark line that extends over half the body and there are two iridescent copper coloured spots, one behind the eye and the other at the base of the caudal fin. [8] [9]

Distribution and habitat

The head-and-taillight tetra is found in South America where it has a wide distribution across the Amazon basin in Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru as well as in the river systems of French Guiana, Guyana and Suriname. This species is found in large clear water tributaries, occassionally in blackwater streams. [1]

Utilisation

The head-and-taillight tetra is relatively easy to care for, peaceful, is easy to breed and hardy, making it a popular species in the aquarium hobby. Most of the fish available in the aquarium trade in Europe are captive bred, typically in Eastern Europe. [8] [10]

A pair of head and tail light tetras Tetra-HeadTail2023.jpg
A pair of head and tail light tetras

References

  1. 1 2 Lima, F. (2023). "Hemigrammus ocellifer". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2023 e.T49830678A159669557. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2023-1.RLTS.T49830678A159669557.en . Retrieved 23 June 2024.
  2. 1 2 Fricke, Ron; Eschmeyer, William N. & van der Laan, Richard (eds.). "Species in the genus Holopristis". Catalog of Fishes . California Academy of Sciences . Retrieved 30 October 2025.
  3. ↑ Fricke, Ron; Eschmeyer, William N. & van der Laan, Richard (eds.). "Genera in the family Thayeriinae". Catalog of Fishes . California Academy of Sciences . Retrieved 30 October 2025.
  4. ↑ Melo, Bruno F; Ota, Rafaela P; Benine, Ricardo C; et al. (2024-09-01). "Phylogenomics of Characidae, a hyper-diverse Neotropical freshwater fish lineage, with a phylogenetic classification including four families (Teleostei: Characiformes)" . Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. 202 (1) zlae101. doi:10.1093/zoolinnean/zlae101. ISSN   0024-4082.
  5. ↑ R. Fricke; W. N. Eschmeyer; R. Van der Laan (2025). "ESCHMEYER'S CATALOG OF FISHES: CLASSIFICATION". California Academy of Sciences. Retrieved 30 October 2025.
  6. ↑ Christopher Scharpf (3 October 2025). "Family ACESTRORHAMPHIDAE Eigenmann 1907 (American Tetras)". The ETYFish Project Fish Name Etymology Database. Retrieved 29 October 2025.
  7. ↑ Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Holopristis ocellifera". FishBase . April 2025 version.
  8. 1 2 "Head and Taillight Tetra - Hemigrammus ocellifer Fish Profile & Care Guide". Aquadiction. Retrieved 30 October 2025.
  9. ↑ "Head & Tail Light Tetra". The Fish Barn. Retrieved 30 October 2025.
  10. ↑ "Hemigrammus ocellifer Head-and-tail light Tetra". Seriously Fish.
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