Teleostei (teleosts) >
Cyprinodontiformes (Rivulines, killifishes and live bearers) >
Poeciliidae (Poeciliids) > Poeciliinae
Etymology: Brachyrhaphis: Greek, brachys, eia = short + Greek, raphis = needle (Ref. 45335).
More on author: Meek.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; pelagic; pH range: 7.0 - 8.2; dH range: 4 - 10; non-migratory. Tropical; 23°C - 34°C (Ref. 36880)
Central America: Costa Rica.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 7.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 26130)
Short description
Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics
Body and head grayish with fine black line along midside and a black blotch on the anal fin. Tail with a black oval blotch on its base (lacking in some individuals found in Río San Juan). Snout sharp and pointed. Anal fin shorter than head length. B. cascajalensis differs from this species in the absence of the black blotch on the base of the tail (mitochondrial DNA implies that the two are valid) (Ref. 36880).
Lives in current of low to moderate velocity between 5-50 m of elevation; at temperatures of 23-34°C. Found near the surface along large river banks, but not common in streams. Feeds on terrestrial insects and in small quantity on aquatic insects. Reproduces throughout the year (Ref. 36880).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Lucinda, P.H.F., 2003. Poeciliidae (Livebearers). p. 555-581. 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, Brazil. (Ref. 50894)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-1)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
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Internet sources
Estimates based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.5002 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.00851 (0.00374 - 0.01935), b=3.14 (2.95 - 3.33), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this (Sub)family-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 3.4 ±0.45 se; based on food items.
Resilience (Ref.
120179): High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low vulnerability (10 of 100).
