Classification / Names
Common names | Synonyms | Catalog of Fishes(genus, species) | ITIS | CoL | WoRMS | Cloffa
Teleostei (teleosts) >
Characiformes (Characins) >
Anostomidae (Headstanders)
Etymology: Megaleporinus: Name from Greek 'mega' meaning large or largest, plus Leporinus, the genus which most species (now in this genus) were previously assigned; refrring to the large size of most congeners.
More on author: Valenciennes.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; benthopelagic; potamodromous (Ref. 51243). Subtropical
South America: Known only from the Rio Jequitinhonha and Rio Pardo in Brazil. Record from São Francisco River, the type locality in the original description, seems to be erroneous (Ref. 93038). Reported from Paraná and La Plata basins (Ref. 36801).
Length at first maturity / Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm 20.8 range ? - ? cm
Max length : 50.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 115169)
Short description
Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics
Dorsal soft rays (total): 11 - 12; Anal soft rays: 10 - 11; Vertebrae: 34. Distinguished from all species of Leporinus , exceptL. amblyrhynchus , by having
the combination of three teeth on each premaxilla and dentary (tooth formula 3/3) and 12 scale rows around the caudal peduncle (vs. tooth formulae 4/4, 3/4 or 4/3, and 14 or 16 scale rows around the caudal peduncle). Can be diagnosed from Leporinus amblyrhynchus by having three dark blotches on the lateral line (vs. dark longitudinal stripe along the lateral line). Additional characters useful to diagnose Leporinus elongatus include 36 or 37 pored scales on the lateral line, 4 scales rows from the dorsal fin origin to the lateral line and 4 from the lateral line to the base of the pelvic fin (Ref. 93038).
Distinct pairs breed on densely grown weedy places (Ref. 205).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Distinct pairs breed on densely grown weedy places (Ref. 205).
Ramirez, J.L., J.L.O. Birindelli and P.M. Galetti Jr., 2017. A new genus of Anostomidae (Ostariophysi: Characiformes): Diversity, phylogeny and biogeography based on cytogenetic, molecular and morphological data. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 107: 308-323. (Ref. 113781)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-1)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
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Estimates based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.5010 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.01072 (0.00841 - 0.01365), b=3.08 (3.03 - 3.13), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this species (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 2.5 ±0.1 se; based on size and trophs of closest relatives
Resilience (Ref.
120179): Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Moderate vulnerability (40 of 100).
