Edit Xenentodon canciloides

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Name

Scientific name

Xenentodon canciloides

Described by

Authority Bleeker, Year 1854, Bracketed

Family

Belonidae

Common names

Not recorded

Photograph credits

All 1 credited

Summary

Xenentodon canciloides is a freshwater needlefish from Borneo, Sumatra, Peninsular Malaysia and Thailand, and is considered to occur in the…

Size and aquarium

Maximum size

300mm, standard length

Aquarium size

Minimum length 180 cm, Minimum depth 60 cm

Water

Water conditions

Temperature 18–26°C, pH 6–8

Hardness

2–15dGH

Conductivity

Not recorded

Behaviour

Temperament

Predatory

Community suitability

Not for a community

Where it lives

Countries, regions, rivers and lakes

Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Borneo, Peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra, Batang Hari, Endau, Kapuas, Mekong

Writing

Etymology

Xenentodon: from the Greek ξένος (xénos), meaning 'strange', and ὀδών (odṓn), meaning 'tooth', in reference to the lower pharyngeal plate. canciloides: 'resemb…

Distribution

Known with certainty from the Greater Sunda Islands of Borneo and Sumatra, Peninsular Malaysia and Thailand, and also considered to occur in the Mekong system …

Habitat

Tends to inhabit slow-moving to still sections of streams and rivers and marshy lowland habitats such as swamps and oxbows although at certain times of year it…

Aquarium size

An aquarium with surface dimensions of 180 ∗ 60 cm or more is recommended. Water depth is less important but should not be less than 30 cm.

Maintenance

This species is a near-exclusive inhabitant of the upper water column and appreciates surface cover in the form of floating or overhanging vegetation. Other dé…

Water conditions

Not written yet

Diet

An obligate predator feeding mostly on smaller fishes and insects in nature, and can be tricky to wean onto dead alternatives in captivity. Smaller specimens c…

Behaviour and compatibility

Surprisingly peaceful with anything too large to swallow, and can be maintained in a community provided tankmates are chosen with care since it is also a poor …

Sexual dimorphism

Sexually mature male specimens apparently develop a pronounced dorsal 'hump' immediately posterior to the head.

Reproduction

Unrecorded.

Notes

This species is rarely seen in the ornamental trade, with its congener X. cancila far more common. Both are often seen referred to as 'freshwater garfish', and…

This species is rarely seen in the ornamental trade, with its congener X. cancila far more common.

Both are often seen referred to as 'freshwater garfish', and although they do superficially resemble the true gars of the family Lepisosteidae, they're actually members of the Belonidae, or needlefishes, the majority of which are marine or estuarine in existence.

There are currently just two species in the genus although the probable existence of a third member has been noted by Roberts (1989) among other authors and the grouping may prove significantly more diverse than is understood at the moment.

Following Roberts (1989) X. canciloides can be distinguished from its only congener X. cancila by the following combination of characters: jaws relatively slender and delicate (vs. relatively large and heavy-set in X. cancila); length of upper jaw fits 2.3-2.6 times in body length measured from anterior margin of orbit to end of hypural plate (vs. 2.6-3.2 times); 21-32 enlarged teeth in upper jaw (vs. 9-21); dorsal-fin origin usually above second or third anal-fin ray (vs. dorsal-fin origin usually anterior to a vertical through anal-fin origin); body relatively small, slender and not exceeding 30 cm TL (vs. heavy-bodied and reaching 40 cm16 in TL).

Roberts (1989) als0 defined the genus Xenentodon as follows: body cylindrical; jaws with large canine teeth alternating with much smaller conical teeth; one pair of pharyngeal teeth; gill rakers absent; scales small to extremely small; lateral line placed very low on body but not forming keel on caudal peduncle; dorsal and anal fins about equal in size and almost opposite each other with 14-19 rays; caudal-fin rounded or truncate; vertebrae 55-62.

Members of the family Belonidae are separated form the remainder of the Order Beloniformes by the following characters: lower jaws extended into a long 'beak' filled with sharp teeth (except in the neotenic genus Belonion); third pair of upper pharyngeal bones separate; body scales relatively small; no finlets posterior to the dorsal and anal fins; nostrils located in a pit anterior to the eyes; no spinous fin rays; dorsal fin with 11–43 rays and anal fin with 12–39 rays, both fins posterior in position; pelvic fins with 6 soft rays and located in an abdominal position; pectoral fins short with 5–15 rays; lateral line orientated ventrally from pectoral-fin origin and running along ventral margin of body; scales small, cycloid, and easily detached; precaudal vertebrae 33–65; caudal vertebrae 19–41; total vertebrae 52–97.

Some freshwater needlefishes reach only 60 – 70 mm2.4 – 2.8 in in total length while certain marine species can attain 2000 mm79 in (2 metres). There are currently ten recognised genera of which the majority are monotypic or contain only two or three species. Most are contained in the relatively diverse genera Tylosurus and Strongylura although the latter in particular is probably polyphyletic and may be split in the future.

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References

12 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