Priocharax | |
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Actinopterygii |
Order: | Characiformes |
Family: | Characidae |
Subfamily: | Characinae |
Genus: | Priocharax S. H. Weitzman & Vari, 1987 |
Species | |
See text |
Priocharax is a genus of characins, very small freshwater fish from the Amazon and Orinoco basins in tropical South America. [1] [2] [3]
There are currently three recognized species in this genus: [1] [2]
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.
Hyphessobrycon is a genus of freshwater fish in the family Characidae. These species are among the fishes known as tetras. The genus is distributed in the Neotropical realm from southern Mexico to Río de la Plata in Argentina. Many of these species are native to South America; about six species are from Central America and a single species, H. compressus is from southern Mexico.
Leporinus is a genus of fish in the family Anostomidae native to South America. The fossil species Leporinus scalabrinii, known from the late Miocene of Entre Ríos in Argentina, has only recently been added to this genus after being misidentified as a species of primate under the name Arrhinolemur scalabrinii for over 100 years.
The payara, Hydrolycus scomberoides, is a species of dogtooth tetra. This predatory fish is found in the Amazon Basin in tropical South America. It was the first of four species to be described in the genus Hydrolycus.
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.
Moenkhausia is a genus of freshwater fish in the family Characidae native to tropical and subtropical South America. These are medium-sized tetras where the largest species only reach around 12 cm (4.7 in).
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.
Chrysobrycon is a genus of characins endemic to South America.
Knodus is a genus of characins, small freshwater fish from South America.
Xenurobrycon is a genus of characins from tropical South America.
Curimatopsis is a genus of small South American fish in the family Curimatidae. They are native to freshwater habitats in the Amazon, Orinoco and Paraguay basins, as well as river of the Guianas.
Cyphocharax is a genus of fish in the family Curimatidae native to South America.
Cynodon is a genus of dogtooth characins from tropical South America, including the Amazon and Orinoco basins, and rivers in the Guianas. These predatory fish reach up to 32.2 cm (1.06 ft) in standard length. They are mainly piscivorous, but will also take insects.
Hydrolycus is a genus of large dogtooth characins from tropical South America, where found in the Amazon and Orinoco basins, as well as rivers of the Guianas. The genus includes the largest dogtooth characins, reaching up to 1.17 m (3.8 ft) in length. They have long, pointed teeth used for spearing their prey, generally smaller fish. In a study of the stomachs of 45 individuals, most were empty, but among the remaining the prey fish were 15–50% of the length Hydrolycus itself.
Cyanogaster noctivaga is a species of characin native to the Rio Negro, Brazil. This species is the only known member of the genus Cyanogaster and its scientific name translates as the blue-bellied night wanderer, referring to its unique appearance and nocturnal habits. It was first described in 2013, having been discovered in October 2011 on a scientific expedition organised by the University of São Paulo, Brazil.
Priocharax nanus is a minute species of fish native to the Rio Negro, Brazil. The species, which has a skeleton of cartilage, is almost completely transparent. It grows to a maximum length of 15.6 millimeters.
Hydrolycus armatus is a species of dogtooth characin found in freshwater of tropical South America. It is sometimes known as the payara, a name it shares with the related H. scomberoides.
Hydrolycus tatauaia is a species of dogtooth characin found in the Amazon, Orinoco and Essequibo basins in tropical South America. Adults mainly occur in deep and/or fast-flowing rivers. It is migratory, moving upstream to breed in November–April.
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.
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.