Chalceus

Chalceus sp.

Chalceus is a genus of large, slender tetras from South America. Chalceus species occur in tropical South America east of the Andes in front of the Amazon basin and Guiana.

Features

Chalceus species are 20 to 25 inches long. Your body is elongated, the large tail fin deeply forked, with a lower Schwanzlossenlobus, which is often a bit bigger. The most striking feature is the special type of scales. Above the lateral line, which is relatively low on the sides, there are three rows of very large scales, below the scales are much smaller and more numerous. In German the freshwater fish are also called Glanzsalmler or South American Großschuppensalmler (see African Großschuppensalmler ). The dorsal fin is short and is located behind the center of the body. A short adipose fin is present.

Chalceus species are fast swimming and good jumping schooling fish that feed on smaller carnivorous fish and insects.

System

Chalceus was until recently the family of the Real tetras ( Characidae ) assigned and was placed there in no subfamily ( Incertae sedis ). In 2011, the genus in a separate, monotypic family has asked that Chalceidae ( Claudio Oliveira et al., 2011).

Species

  • Chalceus epakros Zanata & Toledo - Piza, 2004
  • Chalceus erythrurus ( Cope, 1870)
  • Chalceus fasciatus Jardine & Schomburgk, 1841
  • Chalceus flavicolis Posada, 1909
  • Chalceus guaporensis Zanata & Toledo - Piza, 2004
  • Chalceus heterolepis Fowler, 1907
  • Chalceus latus Jardine, 1841
  • Chalceus macrolepidotus Cuvier, 1817
  • Chalceus pellegrini Puyo, 1943
  • Chalceus spilogyros Zanata & Toledo - Piza, 2004
  • Chalceus taeniatus Jardine & Schomburgk, 1841

Chalceus species are locally exploited as a food fish.

Taxonomic rank#All ranks Ostariophysi Amazon River Carnivore Digital Object Identifier FishBase
175120
de