Megalamphodus epicharis
| Megalamphodus epicharis | |
|---|---|
.png) | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Division: | Teleostei |
| Order: | Characiformes |
| Family: | Acestrorhamphidae |
| Subfamily: | Megalamphodinae |
| Genus: | Megalamphodus |
| Species: | M. epicharis |
| Binomial name | |
| Megalamphodus epicharis (Weitzman & Palmer, 1997) | |
| Synonyms[2] | |
| |
Megalamphodus epicharis, the crystalline rosy tetra, is a species of freshwater ray-finned fish in the American tetra family Acestrorhamphidae. This species is only known to occur in the upper basin of the Rio Negro in Brazil, Colombia and Venezuela, in blackwater tributaries.
Etymology
The generic name Megalamphodus is taken from Greek and means "with spacious ways". Carl H. Eigenmann, who erected the genus in 1915, did not explain the allusion, and it is surmised that this name refers to the "very large" fontanels, where the frontal fontanel is "entirely separate" from the posterior one (i.e. there is a space between the frontal bones and the parietal bones). The specific name, epicharis, means "pleasing", "agreeable" or "charming", a reference to the aesthetically pleasing color and form of this fish.[3]
Taxonomy
Megalamphodus epicharis was first formally described as Hyphessobrycon epicharis in 1997 by the American ichthyologists Stanley Howard Weitzman and Lisa F. Palmer, with its type locality given as the headwaters of the Río Baria, around 3 km (1.9 mi) downstream of the Neblina base camp in the Amazonas State of Venezuela. The exact coordinates are 0°55'N, 66°10'W, and the elevation of the type locality is 120 m (390 ft).[2] In 2024, this species, along with many others, was moved from Hyphessobrycon to the resurrected genus Megalamphodus (which was previously deemed to be a synonym of the former).[4]
Description
Megalamphodus epicharis has a fusiform body, and the maximum standard length of 3.5 cm (1.4 in).[5] The body is transparent but tinted with red in some places. There is a black humeral spot, the caudal fin is reddish orange, and the dorsal fin is black and white,[6] and there are 8 or 9 soft rays in the dorsal fin and between 23 and 29 soft rays in the anal fin.[5] Males develop longer dorsal and anal fins than females, and they are also slimmer and brighter in color.[6]
Distribution and habitat
Megalamphodus epicharis is only known to occur in the upper basin of the Rio Negro in Brazil, Colombia and Venezuela in blackwater tributaries.[1]
Human interactions
Megalamphodus epicharis is collected for the aquarium trade.[1]
References
- 1 2 3 Lima, F. (2023). "Hyphessobrycon epicharis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2023 e.T164583544A164583548. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2023-1.RLTS.T164583544A164583548.en. Retrieved 12 October 2025.
- 1 2 Fricke, Ron; Eschmeyer, William N. & van der Laan, Richard (eds.). "Species in the genus Megalamphodus". Catalog of Fishes. California Academy of Sciences. Retrieved 12 October 2025.
- ↑ Christopher Scharpf (3 October 2025). "Family ACESTRORHAMPHIDAE Eigenmann 1907 (American Tetras)". The ETYFish Project Fish Name Etymology Database. Christopher Scharpf. Retrieved 12 October 2025.
- ↑ Melo, Bruno F; Ota, Rafaela P; Benine, Ricardo C; et al. (2024-09-01). "Phylogenomics of Characidae, a hyper-diverse Neotropical freshwater fish lineage, with a phylogenetic classification including four families (Teleostei: Characiformes)". Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. 202 (1) zlae101. doi:10.1093/zoolinnean/zlae101. hdl:11449/301453. ISSN 0024-4082.
- 1 2 Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Megalamphodus epicharis". FishBase. April 2025 version.
- 1 2 "Crystalline Rosy Tetra - Hyphessobrycon epicharis Fish Profile & Care Guide". Aquadiction. Retrieved 12 October 2025.