Results for “mono-”

This pretty little species can be seen for sale with various common names, including the 'blue emperor', 'regal' or 'royal' tetra. It's sometimes confused with the emperor tetra, Nematobrycon palmeri but can be easily distinguished as it possesses an adipose fin, whilst Nematobrycon species do not. The genus Inpaichthys is currently monotypic (contains only one species), and like other related genera such as Hyphessobrycon its taxonomic status is Incertae s...

All Mystacoleucus species possess a procumbent predorsal spine orientated towards the head, though it can be difficult to spot with the naked eye. This can become entangled in an aquarium net so care must be taken when handling the fish. The trait is shared by members of Tor, Spinibarbus and Paraspinibarbus although there exists no strong evidence to suggest that these genera form a monophyletic lineage and it is...

This species is traded under various names including 'Chinese banded shark', 'Chinese sucker', 'freshwater batfish', 'high-fin banded loach', etc. It's currently illegal to import or own privately in several countries, including the UK, but continues to be available with only the attractive juvenile form traded, and almost always without information regarding adult size of almost a metre or potential lifepan of 25 years+. Myxocyprinus is a monotypic genus and the only Asian representative of the family Cato...

There are currently 25 described species in the genus Nannocharax, these forming a monophyletic group with members of the very similar Hemigrammocharax. None can be described as particularly common in the hobby but N. brevis and N. fasciatus are the most often seen. They are notoriously tricky to identify though, and it's quite possible that more than two species are being sold under these names. In nature these fish occupy a similar ecological niche to the South American darter characi...

P. falkneri is arguably among the most beautiful Potamotrygonids seen in the hobby. It's not imported with any great degree of regularity, and is usually expensive when available. There are currently three genera in the family Potamotrygonidae, all of which hail from South America. Paratrygon and Plesiotrygon are both monotypic genera (contain only a single described species) and are rarely seen in the hobby. The vast majority of imported rays belong to the biggest genus, Potamotrygon. T...

There are currently three genera in the family Potamotrygonidae, all of which hail from South America. Paratrygon and Plesiotrygon are both monotypic genera (contain only a single described species) and are rarely seen in the hobby. The vast majority of captive rays belong to the biggest genus, Potamotrygon. This contains 17 species at present, and its members are sometimes referred to as "big-eyed" stingrays for fairly obvious reasons. There are also a number of undescribed species th...

This miniature look-a-like of the popular Rasbora trilineata is rarely seen in the aquatic hobby, probably as a result of its relatively plain patterning and rather delicate nature. However if a group is well looked-after they will exhibit some interesting behaviour and surprising colour. As it also makes an ideal resident of the ornamental planted aquaria that are currently so popular in the hobby we'd love to see it become more widely-available. The genus is currently monotypic and dis...

S. resplendens is traded under several names including 'Asian rummynose', 'rummynose rasbora' and 'naked microrasbora'. It can be immediately distinguished from all other Asian cyprinids by the distinctive colour pattern. The genus Sawbwa is currently monotypic and endemic to the isolated lake basin of Inlé in Shan State, eastern Myanmar.

This species was initially described as Rasbora axelrodi and is referred to as such in older literature, but in 1999 was moved into the new genus Sundadanio where it remains the monotype. Its wider placement within the family Cyprinidae is still not fully resolved. Following Rüber et al. (2007) it is most closely-related to the miniature species of the genus Paedocypris, the two genera characteristically lacking bones in the roof of the skull as well as exhibiting genetic similarities. Howe...

Traded under various names including 'mottled', 'eyepot', 'sand' and 'striped' loach. It's perhaps one of the better choices for those new to keeping nemacheilids being relatively hardy, peaceful and exhibiting some quirky behavioural traits. The characteristic ocellus, a dark marking at the top of the caudal peduncle that resembles an eye, is thought to have some function in predator distraction and is normally more intense in younger specimens.