Genus
Iguanodectes
- Species
- 4
- Photographed
- 4 of 4
- Difficulty rated
- 4 of 4
Where the name comes fromEdit
from the Taino iwana, meaning 'lizard', and Ancient Greek déktés, meaning 'biter'.

Iguanodectes adujai
Géry, 1970
Traded as the 'red line lizard tetra', Iguanodectes adujai is a characin from the rio Negro in Brazil and the upper Río Orinoco in Venezuela. It is exported alongside the similar-looking I. geisleri, and differs in lacking the black lateral stripe beneath the red stripe and in having 28 to 34 anal-fin rays (20 to 25 in I. geisleri). It is assumed to live in smaller tributaries containing pristine blackwater.

Iguanodectes geisleri
Géry, 1970
Iguanodectes geisleri is a characin from the rios Madeira and Negro in Brazil and the upper Río Orinoco in Venezuela. Traded with the similar-looking I. adujai as the 'red line lizard tetra', it differs in having a black lateral stripe beneath the red stripe and 20 to 25 anal-fin rays (28 to 34 in I. adujai). Adult males carry red markings in the pectoral, pelvic, anal and caudal fins.

Iguanodectes spilurusGreen Line Lizard Tetra
Günther, 1864
The green line lizard tetra, Iguanodectes spilurus, is a characin found throughout the Amazon, Orinoco, Essequibo and Tocantins river systems. The most widespread Iguanodectes species, it has also been called the 'slender', 'spindle' or 'iguana' tetra, and differs from its congeners in its translucent dorsal and anal fins, lack of a red lateral stripe and prominent dark caudal-fin marking. It is sensitive to poor water conditions.

Iguanodectes variatus
Géry, 1993
Iguanodectes variatus is a characin from Brazil, recorded from the Guaporé, Madeira, Branco, Trombetas and Urubu river systems in the Amazon basin. It belongs to a small genus of elongate fishes in the family Iguanodectidae and grows to around 103 mm SL.