Edit Crenuchus spilurus

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Name

Scientific name

Crenuchus spilurus

Described by

Authority Günther, Year 1863

Family

Crenuchidae

Common names

Sailfin Characin

Photograph credits

All 17 credited

Summary

The sailfin characin, Crenuchus spilurus, is a crenuchid from much of the Amazon and Orinoco drainages and coastal rivers of the Guianas. T…

Size and aquarium

Maximum size

70mm, standard length

Aquarium size

Minimum length 75 cm, Minimum depth 30 cm

Water

Water conditions

Temperature 20–28°C, pH 4–6.5

Hardness

1–5dGH

Conductivity

Not recorded

Behaviour

Temperament

Peaceful

Community suitability

Not for a community

Where it lives

Countries, regions, rivers and lakes

Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, Venezuela, Amazon, Ampiyacu, Arari, Aruka, Barawa, Capim, Casiquiare, Corantijn, Courantyne, Demerara, Essequibo, Marawinuma, Moruka, Negro, Orinoco, Pastaza, Putumayo, Solimões

Writing

Etymology

Crenuchus: apparently means 'guardian of the spring'. spilurus: from the Ancient Greek σπῖλος (spilos), meaning 'spot', and οὐρά (oura), meaning 'tail', in ref…

Distribution

Type locality is the Essequibo river system in Guyana but this species is currently understood to range throughout much of the Amazon and Orinoco drainages plu…

Habitat

Mostly inhabits forest streams and minor tributaries, and often occurs in flooded forests during periods of high water. Its most-favoured habitats are characte…

Aquarium size

An aquarium with base dimensions of 75 ∗ 30 cm or equivalent is recommended.

Maintenance

Best-maintained in a well-structured set-up, ideally comprising a sandy substrate plus some driftwood roots and branches. The addition of dried leaf litter fur…

Water conditions

Not written yet

Diet

Chiefly a micropredator feeding on tiny invertebrates and other zooplankton with the stomach contents of wild specimens from Guyana observed to comprise Epheme…

Behaviour and compatibility

Peaceful with other species but does not always make an ideal community fish due to its rather timid nature and predominantly benthic existence. Ideally it sho…

Sexual dimorphism

Adult males are larger, more colourful, and develop greatly-extended dorsal and anal fins whereas females are relatively plain.

Reproduction

Normally spawns in small caves or among leaf litter and forms temporary pair bonds with the male solely responsible for egg and brood-care. Sexually-active mal…

Notes

This species is currently the only described member of its genus although colour pattern and morphology vary considerably across its range. You may see referen…

This species is currently the only described member of its genus although colour pattern and morphology vary considerably across its range.

You may see reference to this species being the only fish species to possess infra-red vision, but other species also possess this ability and we suspect that infra-red plays an important role in the reproductive cycle of many fishes.

The family Crenuchidae is separated from other Characiformes by possession of paired foramina in the frontal bones located posterodorsally to the orbits, and it's often split into the putative subfamilies Crenuchinae and Characidiinae.

Crenuchus is a member of the Crenuchinae and the only other genus currently included in this subfamily is Poecilocharax while the Characidiinae currently contains the genera Characidium, Ammocryptocharax, Geryichthys, Leptocharacidium, Melanocharacidium, Klauzewitzia, Odontocharacidium, Microcharacidium, Skiotocharax and Elachocharax.

The majority of crenuchids are native to waters surrounding the Guiana Shield, including the Orinoco and upper Amazon basins, although the genus Characidium is much more widespread with members known from as far south as the Río de la Plata drainage in Argentina.

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References

5 on this profile

Name

Scientific name

Described by

Family

Common names

Photograph credits

Summary

Size and aquarium

Maximum size

Aquarium size

Water

Water conditions

Hardness

Conductivity

Behaviour

Temperament

Social needs

Community suitability

Where it lives

Countries, regions, rivers and lakes

Writing

Etymology

Distribution

Habitat

Aquarium size

Maintenance

Water conditions

Diet

Behaviour and compatibility

Sexual dimorphism

Reproduction

Notes

References

References