Issue
The genera Lebiasina and Piabucina are separated mainly by the presence of an adipose fin in Piabucina vs. absence in Lebiasina. Allocation of species to one or another genus may vary between authors. Piabucina is maintained here pending a taxonomic revision of the subfamily Lebiasininae (Sven Kullander, pers. comm.). In young specimens this species has a series of dark spots across the body similar to those of L. multimaculata, suggesting a possible relationship, but the spots become less distinct in the adult, those anterior fading and some posterior joining to form bars on P. astrigata. In addition multimaculata has rows of red spots on the scales whereas on astrigata the spots are orange. All specimens of this species examined have an adipose fin. (Ramiro Barriga and Marilyn Weitzman, pers. comm.) Eschmeyer, 1998:151; Géry, 1977:126.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; demersal; pH range: 5.8 - 7.8; dH range: ? - 25. Tropical; 22°C - 26°C (Ref. 1672)
South America: northern Ecuador and southern Colombia west of the Andes.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 16.0 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 37104)
Facultative air-breathing in the genus (Ref. 126274); Found in small shallow waterways in forested areas.
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Weitzman, M. and S.H. Weitzman, 2003. Lebiasinidae (Pencil fishes). p. 241-251. In R.E. Reis, S.O. Kullander and C.J. Ferraris, Jr. (eds.) Checklist of the Freshwater Fishes of South and Central America. Porto Alegre: EDIPUCRS, Brasil. (Ref. 37104)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-1)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: commercial; aquarium: commercial
Tools
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Estimates based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.5020 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.00692 (0.00273 - 0.01753), b=3.05 (2.83 - 3.27), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this (Sub)family-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 3.7 ±0.4 se; based on size and trophs of closest relatives
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low vulnerability (10 of 100).