Tailspot tetra
species of fish
The tailspot tetra (Bryconops caudomaculatus) is a small species of freshwater ray-finned fish belonging to the family Iguanodectidae. This fish is found in the coastal river regions of upper South America. Both its common and scientific names reference the distinct spot of color present on the tail fin, which is one of its defining characteristics. It is a small fish, reaching 4.8 in (12.4 cm) at its longest. Despite its small size, it is an active swimmer, with a preference for fast-flowing waters.
Description
The tailspot tetra, like the rest of the genus Bryconops, has a slender body described as "smelt-like", similar to members of sister genus Piabucus. It reaches 4.8 in (12.4 cm) in total length (with the tail fin included), and a corresponding weight of 20.1 grams. Its back scales are tinted orange to dark-orange, fading into silver on the belly when the fish is alive. Upon close inspection, the scales are also revealed to have a scattering of minute dots.
The spot of bright orange on the basal half of the caudal fin is what gives the tailspot tetra its common name.
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This entry incorporates text from “Tailspot tetra” on English Wikipedia. Contributors are listed in the page history. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Selected authority identifiers and statements are retrieved from Wikidata under CC0; their references and qualifiers remain part of the verification path.