Polycentrus schomburgkii

Polycentrus schomburgkii Watercolor by Wilhelm Schreitmüller from 1924

The South American with many spines ( Polycentrus schomburgkii ) is a small predatory fish from the north of South America and the only species of the genus Polycentrus.

Description

Males reach a length of 6 cm, the females are a bit smaller and lighter. This crepuscular fish is matched by its brown color of dead leaves, to which it even better adapts itself by a certain color change. This mimicry is also used for foraging (shock robbers; Saugschnappen ). With the strong optical orientation agrees that Polycentrus has no lateral line organ - but the neuromasts this sense organ are arranged every scale on the edge than mine lines (pit lines).

The fin formula is: Dorsal: XVI-XVIII/8-9, Anal XII/6-8, Ventral I / 5

Distribution & Habitat

The distribution area of the South American Much Stach coupler extends from Venezuela through Guyana to the Brazilian state of Amapá. Also on the Caribbean island of Trinidad this species is widespread. The habitat consists of small, partly brackish, vegetation -rich waters.

Way of life

Its diet consists of small fish, insects and worms. Its optical orientation on Moving makes the diet in the aquarium difficult.

Except in the spawning season, the fish are incompatible. During this time the male guards, however, but then that or the clutch located on the underside of floating plants; some of the clutches are foam nests.

System

The specific epithet schomburgkii is defined as autonomous conservandum, although already Carolus Linnaeus in 1768 probably has this type, under the name punctatus mentioned.

The demarcation of the Polycentridae of the South Asian Nandidae is unclear - the similarities could be based on mere convergence. In particular, the position of African rheas sheljuzhkoi is uncertain.