Results for “genus”

Not often seen for sale, but occasionally shows up as a contaminant among imports of more popular species. It's a subtly attractive species when in good condition. Like all Hemigrammus, the taxonomic status of this species is currently Incertae Sedis, meaning uncertain. The genus is currently used as something of a catch-all for over 70 species of small characin. Most experts agree that a full revision is required, with the likely outcome that many species will be placed into new or diff...

Other species are frequently misidentified as H. ulreyi. The true fish is quite scarce in the hobby, but makes a very attractive addition to most tanks if you can find it. Like all Hemigrammus, the taxonomic status of this species is currently Incertae Sedis, meaning uncertain. The genus is currently used as something of a catch-all for over 70 species of small characin. Most experts agree that a full revision is required, with the likely outcome that many species will be placed into new or d...

Despite its abundance in nature, this is not a commonly seen species in the hobby. When it is available, it's usually only as a contaminant among imports of other species. Like all Hemigrammus, the taxonomic status of this species is currently Incertae Sedis, meaning uncertain. The genus is currently used as something of a catch-all for over 70 species of small characin. Most experts agree that a full revision is required, with the likely outcome that many species will be placed into new...

The only time you'll probably come across this species is as a contaminant among imports of other species. This is a pity, as it's an attractive, peaceful little fish. Like all Hemigrammus, the taxonomic status of this species is currently Incertae Sedis, meaning uncertain. The genus is currently used as something of a catch-all for over 70 species of small characin. Most experts agree that a full revision is required, with the likely outcome that many species will be placed into ne...

Hemiodus species can be very nervous when first introduced to the aquarium but usually settle down over time, especially if a large number are being kept together. All of them look superficially similar, but can be distinguished by differences in patterning. None are particularly common in the hobby, but H. gracilis is probably the most often seen. It is sometimes sold as the red or red-tailed hemiodus and was previously considered a member of the now defunct genus Hemiodopsis....

There is some confusion as to where this species should be placed taxonomically. It is currently the only species in the genus Hemisynodontis but it has been regularly moved between Synodontis, Hemisynodontis and Brachysynodontis. The main morphological differences that set it apart are the presence of additional gill rakers in this species and the fact it has relatively few mandibular teeth compared to Synodontis species. It also possesses the chracteristic "moustache", which is in fa...

The only species in the genus, and a popular game fish in its native range, H. odoe superficially resembles our native European Pike. It is an ambush predator with a fearsome set of teeth, and should be handled very carefully, particularly when maintaining its tank. Although juvenile specimens have become relatively common in the trade in the last few years, this is strictly a species for the specialist who is able to provide it with a suitably large aquarium and the correct conditions. In sm...

Like many cichlids, members of the genus Herichthys share something of a confused taxonomic past. Erected in 1854 with H. cyanoguttatus the type species, its members were moved into Cichlasoma by Regan in 1905. However following a reclassification of Cichlasoma by Kullander in 1983 it was once again deemed valid. In 1996 Kullander suggested Herichthys should only contain species "sharing a colour pattern of short vertical bars or black spots posteriorly from the middle of the side, and a un...

Like many cichlids, members of the genus Herichthys share something of a confused taxonomic past. Erected in 1854 with H. cyanoguttatus the type species, its members were moved into Cichlasoma by Regan in 1905. However following a review of Cichlasoma by Kullander in 1983 it was once again deemed valid. In 1996 Kullander suggested Herichthys should only contain species "sharing a colour pattern of short vertical bars or black spots posteriorly from the middle of the side, and a unique breed...

Also known as the mosquito fish, least killifish or dwarf top minnow, H. formosa is the smallest known livebearing fish species, and one of the smallest overall fish species in the world. It's not often seen for sale these days, although it's quite widely available in hobbyist circles. When buying these, ensure they have been identified correctly as they're sometimes confused with the much more aggressive mosquito fish of the genus Gambusia....

One of the largest freshwater fish species found in Africa, this is not a very good aquarium inhabitant. It is suitable only for the truly dedicated hobbyist able to house it properly or for public aquaria. It can be distinguished from similar members of the genus by its very long adipose fin....

The reason that the paired fins are orientated vertically, as opposed to horizontally in other members of the genus, is unclear but Roberts (1989) suggest it may be an adaptation to this species' ecology, in that it displays a preference for submerged vegetation or woody structures as opposed to rocky environments. They're certainly adapted for a rea...

This species appears is rare in the aquarium hobby with the majority of images both online and in the published literature instead depicting H. confuzona or H. parclitella. All three are members of the H. ocellata 'group' within the genus which currently contains H. ocellata, H. bilineata, H. confuzona, H. orthogoniata, H. ogilviei and H. parclitella. Following Tan and Ng (2005) these share possession of...

The genus Homalopteroides was revalidated by Randall and Page (2012) and is told apart from the related Homaloptera by the following character combination: dorsal-fin origin above pelvic-fin; ≤ 60 lateral-line scales; ≤ 30 predorsal scales; oral morphology consisting of two thin and widely separated rostral barbels on each side of the mouth, thin crescent-shaped lips, the absence of any structure such as a mental pad or lobes between the lateral portions of the lower lip, and a chin that extends anterior to the lateral portions of the lower lip.

Described from close to the village of Ban Khiri Wong, Nakhon Si Thammarat Province, southern (peninsular) Thailand but since recorded throughout much of the country, including the Chao Phraya and Mekong river systems. It's also known from Peninsular Malaysia and parts of the Mekong basin in Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam. Rainboth (1996) considered it 'probably the commonest member of the genus in the Mekong' and in a 2008 study of balitorid habitats in centra...

Fowler (1940) described this species as the unique member of his new genus Homalopterula on the basis of a single specimen, separated from related genera by the curved shape of the jaws, truncate caudal-fin and scaleless ventral surface.

Also known as the golden trahira, H. unitaeniatus is the only one of the three recognised species currently in the genus to appear in the trade with any regularity. It's really a fish suitable only for the specialist, and as with any predatory species, care must be taken when performing tank maintenance. It's a representative of an ancient group of fishes, and possesses a modified, highly vascularised swim bladder that acts as an accessory breathing organ, allowing the fish to survi...

There are only 2 species currently in the genus Horabagrus, with this one being the rarer in the hobby. H. brachysoma is the other, and it resembles H. nigricollaris quite closely. It is a much larger fish and is unsuitable for most home aquaria. Confusion can arise as both are usually sold as juveniles, at around 2-3" in length. They can be told apart by examining the black shoulder markings found on either side of the fish. In H. brachysoma this is no more than a vaguely circular dark blo...

The genus is monotypic and distinguished from other cyprinid taxa by a combination of a moderately compressed, elongated body with two rows of teeth on the lower pharyngeal (throat) bone and lacking barbles, visible lateral line and a symphyseal knob on the lower jaw (Talwar & Jhingran, 1991). Its small adult size evolved via a process known as miniaturisation characterised by sexually mature adults with a significantly reduced size of less than 20 mm SL. Among bony fishes cyprinids are one of the few groups in which this phenomenon occurs repeatedly...

For many years this species has (and still is) imported as Pelteobagrus ornatus. It was assigned to the new genus Hyalobagrus, and discovered to be a distinct species, during a taxonomic revision of the Bagridae family in 1998. The other 2 species which were also thought to be P. ornatus are H. leiacanthus and H. ornatus. Apparently these two are imported rarely, if ever. Unlike the vast majority of catfish, H. flavus is a diurnal species, and spends much of its time swimming in shoals in m...