Alfaro (genus)

Messerschwanzkärpfling ( Alfaro cultratus )

Alfaro is a genus of viviparous tooth carp ( Poeciliinae ). The fish come in Central America in Honduras, Costa Rica on before to Western Panama. They live only in rivers and streams that flow into the Atlantic. The genus was by A. Alfaro, at that time director of the National Museum of Costa Rica, named. There are two types, the Messerschwanzkärpfling ( Alfaro cultratus ) and the Netzkärpfling ( Alfaro huberi ).

Features

Alfaro - species reach lengths between 3.5 cm and 6 cm (males), or between 5 cm and 8 cm (females ). There are elongated, laterally strongly flattened fish from grayish to brownish in color. The fins are translucent and yellowish. A characteristic feature of the genus is the two- scale rows knife-like keel edge between anal and caudal fin. The keel is at the edge Messerschwanzkärpfling more pronounced than in Netzkärpfling.

The reproductive organ of the male, the gonopodium is simple, why Alfaro is considered very original type of live-bearing tooth carp. Apart from Tomeurus Alfaro is the phylogenetically basalste genus of Poeciliinae.

Species

  • Messerschwanzkärpfling ( Alfaro cultratus )
  • Netzkärpfling ( Alfaro huberi )
Poeciliidae Museo Nacional de Costa Rica Tomeurus gracilis Digital Object Identifier FishBase
46694
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