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Genus

Iguanodectes

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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'.

Individual from the UK aquarium trade; note the location of the anal- and dorsal-fin origins (see 'Notes').

Iguanodectes adujai

Géry, 1970

Max length
62mm SL2.4in SL
Tank
90 × 30cm36 × 12in
Temp
20–26°C68–79°F
pH
5.0–7.0

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.

Moderate
Specimen collected from the rio Aripuanã (rio Madeira basin), Brazil.

Iguanodectes geisleri

Géry, 1970

Max length
55mm SL2.2in SL
Tank
120 × 30cm48 × 12in
Temp
20–26°C68–79°F
pH
5.0–7.0

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.

Moderate
Specimen from the UK aquarium trade.

Iguanodectes spilurusGreen Line Lizard Tetra

Günther, 1864

Max length
102mm SL4in SL
Tank
120 × 45cm48 × 18in
Temp
20–28°C68–82°F
pH
5.0–7.5

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.

Moderate
Specimen collected from the rio Aripuanã (rio Madeira basin), Brazil.

Iguanodectes variatus

Géry, 1993

Max length
103mm SL4in SL
Tank
not recorded
Temp
not recorded
pH
not recorded

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.

Moderate
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