Suriname

The splash tetra, Copella arnoldi, is a lebiasinid from the lower Amazon basin in Brazil and coastal drainages of Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana. It spawns out of the water: a pair leap together onto overhanging vegetation and cling there while the eggs are laid. Zarske (2011) treats the Guianas populations as C. carsevennensis, restricting C. arnoldi sensu stricto to the lower Amazon, though Mol (2012) considers the two synonymous.

Copella carsevennensis is a small lebiasinid from coastal river systems in Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana and Amapá state, Brazil. It appears in the trade from time to time among wild-caught fishes from the Guianas. Zarske (2011) separated it from C. arnoldi, partly because it lays its eggs among submerged vegetation and not out of the water, though Mol (2012) considers the two synonymous.

Geophagus brokopondo is a cichlid endemic to the Suriname River drainage in Suriname, first known only from the Brokopondo Reservoir. It is very rarely traded, since collection of fishes for commercial purposes is not common in Suriname. Six solid vertical bars on each flank, the last covering the whole caudal peduncle, separate it from the very similar G. abalios.

The yellow phantom tetra, Hyphessobrycon roseus, is a small characid from Suriname, French Guiana and the Brazilian bank of the Oyapock/Oiapoque. Although popular in the hobby, its identity is somewhat confused, and two colour forms have been traded. It inhabits forest tributaries and igarapés with acidic, brownish water, sandy substrates and leaf litter.

The golden pencilfish, Nannostomus beckfordi, is a lebiasinid widely distributed across Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana, Brazil and Venezuela. The type species of the genus and fairly ubiquitous in the trade, it is less demanding than most congeners and a good choice for a newcomer. Many fish on sale are farmed, and wild populations vary in colour pattern, several having been described as species now considered synonyms of N. beckfordi.

Boeseman's catfish, Hoplisoma boesemani, long known as Corydoras boesemani, is an armoured catfish endemic to the upper Suriname River system in Suriname. It appears abundant there, in clear, soft, acidic water over sand, mud and leaf litter, with juveniles forming large aggregations and adults smaller groups. It is uncommon in the hobby but has been collected on a handful of occasions.