Phalloceros

Spotted Kaudi ( Phalloceros caudimaculatus ), male

Phalloceros is a genus of viviparous tooth- carp from the southeastern South America. The best-known representative is the Kaudi ( Phalloceros caudimaculatus ), a freshwater ornamental fish, of which several cultivated varieties exist.

Features

Phalloceros species reach a length of up to six inches. The males remain significantly smaller than the females. Compared with other live-bearing tooth carp they have this in relation to their body size a long gonopodium. A horn- like extension from which is derived the generic name is located at the tip of the Gonopodiums (from Greek κέρας keras: Horn ). Many species have a black, round spot in the rear center of the body before the insertion of the caudal peduncle. In some species, this spot is more vertically oval to the form of lines, in other cases he is completely absent. From Kaudi exist black spotted and golden cultivated forms.

Dissemination

The natural range of the species extends from the Rio São Francisco in Brazil over Uruguay and Paraguay to Argentina, where the animals occur in the catchment area of ​​the river Paraná. Phalloceros caudimaculatus was detected as neozoon in Australia.

System

Together with Phallotorynus and Cnesterodon is the genus of the tribe Cnesterodontini. For a long time Phalloceros as monotypic with the Kaudi as the sole representative. Recent investigations led to the description of a large number of new species. Currently, 22 species are known:

  • Phalloceros alessandrae Lucinda, 2008
  • Phalloceros anisophallos Lucinda, 2008
  • Phalloceros aspilos Lucinda, 2008
  • Phalloceros buckupi Lucinda, 2008
  • Kaudi ( Phalloceros caudimaculatus ) ( Hensel, 1868)
  • Phalloceros elachistos Lucinda, 2008
  • Phalloceros enneaktinos Lucinda, 2008
  • Phalloceros Harpagos Lucinda, 2008
  • Phalloceros heptaktinos Lucinda, 2008
  • Phalloceros leptokeras Lucinda, 2008
  • Phalloceros leticiae Lucinda, 2008
  • Phalloceros lucenorum Lucinda, 2008
  • Phalloceros malabarbai Lucinda, 2008
  • Phalloceros mega polos Lucinda, 2008
  • Phalloceros mikrommatos Lucinda, 2008
  • Phalloceros ocellatus Lucinda, 2008
  • Phalloceros Pellos Lucinda, 2008
  • Phalloceros reisi Lucinda, 2008
  • Phalloceros spiloura Lucinda, 2008
  • Phalloceros titthos Lucinda, 2008
  • Phalloceros tupinamba Lucinda, 2008
  • Phalloceros uai Lucinda, 2008
Poeciliidae Carl H. Eigenmann FishBase
646407
de