| Henochilus | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Characiformes |
| Family: | Bryconidae |
| Subfamily: | Bryconinae |
| Genus: | Henochilus Garman, 1890 |
| Species: | H. wheatlandii |
| Binomial name | |
| Henochilus wheatlandii Garman, 1890 | |
Henochilus is a monospecific genus of freshwater ray-finned fish belonging to the family Bryconidae, the doradas and jaw characins. The only species in the genus is Henochilus wheatlandii. This genus is classified in the subfamily Bryconinae, in the family Bryconidae, within the suborder Characoidei of the order Characiformes. [2] [3] [4] This taxon is endemic to Brazil where native to the Mucuri and Doce River basins. [5] It is a Critically Endangered species, and now restricted to the Santo Antônio River, a tributary of the Doce River. [6]
It is a critically endangered species,[ contradictory ] and had been considered extinct for more than a century, until rediscovered in 1996. [7] This species is known to feed on plants. [8] It can reach up to 41.3 cm (16.3 in) in standard length. [5]
Henochilus means "one-lipped", an allusion to this fish having a lip on the lower jaw but no lip on the upper jaw. The specific name honors Henry Wheatland (1812–1893), who was President of the Essex Institute in Salem, Mass., USA, which published the description of the fish. [9]
