Priapichthys annectens, the orange-finned tooth carp, is a species of freshwater ray-finned fish belonging to the familyPoeciliidae, which includes the guppies, mollies, mosquitofishes and related species. This fish is found in southern Central America.
Priapichthys annectens is the type species of the genus Priapichthys, a name which Regan did not explain but which almost certainly refers to the Greekfertility godPriapus, who was represented by an oversized penis and would be a reference to the longer gonopodium of this species compared to Gambusia. The specific name, annectens, means "linking" or "joining". a reference to this taxon forming a link between Gambusia bimaculata and G. episcopi, which were presumed to be its congeners.[5]
Description
Priapichthys annectens has black margins on the scales on the body and these create a cross-hatched pattern on the body, denser along the centre of the flanks and it can look like a series of X markings running along the body. There are between 6 and 12 vertical bars on the flanks, varying in intensity with locality. There are elongated black blotches on the dorsal fin at its base. The anterior rays of the anal fin are orange, otherwide the fins are colourless. The eyes and cheeks have slivery green tints. This species has a elongate body with a cylindrical cross section and attains a maximum total length of 4cm (1.6in) for males and 6.5cm (2.6in) for females.[6]
Distribution and habitat
Priapichthys annectens occurs in southern Nicaragua, Costa Rica and western Panama from the drainage basin. It is found from the Lake Nicaragua drainage throughout the Atlantic and Pacific slopes of Costa Rica, into the Atlantic slope in western Panama. It is found in small streams with variable current, and water temperature over sand or stony substrates.[1]
Original description: Regan, 1907: Descriptions of six new freshwater fishes from Mexico and Central America. Annals and Magazine of Natural History: Series 7, 19(111): 258–260
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