Results for “várzea”

This species is diagnosable from other members of the genus primarily by its unique colour pattern which consists of 7-11 dark blue, irregularly-shaped, parallel vertical bars on the anterior portion of each flank plus a short horizontal stripe on the caudal peduncle which extends into the central caudal fin rays. Phylogenetic analyses suggest it's most closely-related to Indian Devario spp. plus D. xyrops from the western slope of the Rakhine Yoma mountains in Myanmar (Fang et al., 2009; Fang and Kullander, 2009).

This unidentified species was first collected in 2007 but very little is known about it. The vernacular name refers to the colour pattern on the body which resembles that of a giraffe, and it's known to be collected in Myanmar although its distribution and natural habitat remain a mystery.

D. compressiceps is an ambush predator in nature, its laterally compressed shape and head-down hunting position allowing it to remain hidden among Vallisneria beds and making it tricky to spot in open water. It has a dark stripe running from the snout along the back to the tail which serves to provide further camouflage. Despite its common name, it does not prey solely on the eyes of other species, preferring to hunt small fish (particularly juvenile Copadichromis sp.). It swallows these tai...

It's also been collected in more open areas but wherever it is found the substrate is composed of boulders, smaller stones, sand and/or gravel along with decomposing plant material. From images we've seen typical habitats are composed of short sections of rocky rapids interspersed by deeper pools with exposed bedrock. Rainboth describes how he collected a large group of...

This species has become more common in the trade in recent years, and makes an interesting addition to larger communities. It develops bright red fins as it matures. Some specimens develop a pink sheen on the underside. These variations may indicate different species, as there are several in the genus that superficially resemble D. affinis....

One of the most notorious fish in the world, the electric eel is a truly fascinating species. Its vital organs are contained in the front portion of the body, with up to 80% of it being reserved for the enormous electricity-producing organs. It uses electricity in several ways. The species is nocturnal and has very poor eyesight and so uses a weak electric field to navigate and identify its surroundings. This weak, pulsing signal is produced by the Sachs organ, one of 3 electricity-producing org...

The ornamental albino variant is widely-available and has become extremely popular in the hobby and there is a commercially-produced anerythristic (lacking red pigment) mutation that has pale yellowish fins and has sometimes been misidentified as E. munense. Also worthy of note is that the specific name is sometimes misspelled 'frenatus'. Most members of Epalzeorhynchos were formerly regarded as Labeo spp. and are thus referred to as such in older literature. According to Rainboth (1996) they're characterised by absence of a dorsal spine...

Perhaps looks best in a heavily-planted set-up or natural-style arrangement comprising a sandy substrate plus some driftwood roots and branches. The addition of dried leaf litter would further emphasise the natural feel and as well as offering additional cover for the fish brings with it the growth of microbe colonies as decomposition occurs. These can provide a valuable secondary food source for fry and the humic su...

Distributed throughout coastal regions north and westwards from Gabon through Equatorial Guinea, Cameroon, Nigeria, Benin and Togo as far as Ghana although some consider it restricted to northwestern Gabon and Equatorial Guinea with the remaining populations representing various subspecies (see 'Notes'). Type locality is 'Gaboon River', which presumably refe...

This is the only species in the genus Erpetoichthys, and is an incredibly hardy, nocturnal species. Due to its poor vision, the Ropefish relies on its excellent sense of smell to locate food. It's closely related to the Polypterus genus and both these are some of the last surviving relatives of very ancient species. Fossils of earlier relatives have been found that date back to the Triassic Period, which occured during the early development of the dinosaurs, more than 200 million years ago....

Erromyzon spp. are obligate dwellers of shallow, fast-flowing, highly-oxygenated headwaters/minor tributaries characterised by stretches of riffles and runs broken up by pools or cascades in some cases. Substrates are normally composed of smaller rocks, sand and gravel with jumbles of boulders, and while riparian/stream-side vegetation and patches of submerged leaf litter are common features aquatic plants aren't usually present.

This species is still sometimes listed as a species of Lebias by some sources although that name has long been considered a synonym of Cyprinodon by most authorities and an ICZN committee voted to suppress the name in favour of Aphanius as recently as 2003. It was known as A. persicus until late 2011 when it was reclassified due to that name being preoccupied by a Late Miocene fossil species previously referred to as Brachylebias persicus Priem 1908. This change was necessary because Gau...

Known from the Mekong river basin in Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam, the Tonlé Sap river and lake system in Cambodia, and smaller, coastal drainages in southeast Thailand. Records from Peninsular Malaysia are likely to refer to other species. Type locality is given simply as 'Cambodia'.

An obligate dwellers of swiftly-flowing streams and headwaters containing clear, oxygen-saturated water. It inhabits riffles and runs and according to studies shows a preference for shallower zones. Substrates are generally composed of gravel, rocks, boulders or bedrock carpeted with a rich biofilm formed by algae and other micro-organisms. Aquatic plants are uncommon and while riparian/streamside vegetation may be present...

Known only from a relatively small area near the villages of Takwai I and II, Atebong Wire and Edjuingan in wester Cameroon, with records existing from the Bagwor and Mack river systems both of which are tributaries within the upper Cross River basin, western Cameroon. Type locality is 'West Cameroon, 5°34'N, 9°50'E'. Collections of wild fish are generally lab...

One of the most stunning killifish available, due to the sublime colouration of adult males combined with their impressive maximum size. It was formerly classified as Aphyosemion sjoestedti and much of the available literature still refers to it by this name. There are several colour forms available, including a smaller variety known as "Dwarf Red".

Known from the upper Brahmaputra River basin in Arunachal Pradesh state, northern India, with records from the lower Divang Valley and Lohit District.

G. bispinosa can be distinguished from all other congeners in Southeast Asia and China by the following combination of characters: a conspicuous, quadrate, anteriorly-directed proboscis orientated ventrally against the snout and anteriorly adorned with a single, large, uniscupid, acanthoid tubercle on the distal tip of each lobe; snout with a deep groove across its tip to form a transverse lobe; 34-35 lateral...

Also known by the vernacular names ''black band garra', 'stone-lapping minnow' or 'false flying fox' and continues to be traded as Garra taeniata, an invalid name synonymous with G. cambodgiensis. It is often confused with those laterally-striped members of the genus Crossocheilus sold as 'Siamese algae eater' or 'Siamese flying fox', but in those species the dark lateral body stripe continues into the caudal-fin whereas in G. cambodgiensis it terminates...

Native to the Mekong river system in Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, and Cambodia, including the Tonlé Sap basin. Type locality is 'Kemarat, Thailand', which corresponds to the Mekoong River in Khemmarat district, Ubon Ratchathani province, northeastern Thailand.