Classification / Names
Common names | Synonyms | Catalog of Fishes(genus, species) | ITIS | CoL | WoRMS | Cloffa
Teleostei (teleosts) >
Characiformes (Characins) >
Characidae (Characins; tetras) > Stethaprioninae
Etymology: Phycocharax: Derived from the Greek phykos, meaning 'algae', in reference to the feeding habit of the new taxon owing to the dominance of this resource in its stomach contents, plus charax, meaning 'pointed stake' or 'palisade of pointed sticks', the first generic name in Characidae; rasbora: Named after the Bengali word 'rasbora', the common name of the fish Rasbora rasbora (Hamilton). Rasbora is a genus encompassing a great radiation of small cyprinids from southeastern Asia, including the species currently allocated in the genus Trigonostigma, which possess a dark triangular blotch on body sides very reminiscent in shape and position similarly as found in the new species. A noun in apposition.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; benthopelagic. Tropical
South America: upper rio Braço Norte, a tributary of the rio Teles Pires drainage, rio Tapajós basin in Mato Grosso State, Brazil.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 3.3 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 116744)
Short description
Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics
Dorsal soft rays (total): 10 - 11; Vertebrae: 32 - 34. Phycocharax rasbora is distinguished by the combination of the following non-unique characters: single row of relatively compressed premaxillary teeth present; large teeth on premaxillary and dentary with four to nine cusps; pseudotympanum lacking; incomplete lateral line with 7-13 pored scales; anal fin dimorphic, males with distal margin approximately straight, and
decreasing gently posteriorly, while females present slightly concave margin of anal fin with anteriormost branched rays distinctly longer than remaining rays; horizontally-elongated somewhat triangular blotch present, extending from vertical through dorsal-fin terminus to caudal peduncle end (Ref. 116744).
Collected mainly in dammed portions of the rio Braço Norte where it can be considered highly abundant. Appears to be uncommon in the lotic stretch of rio Braço Norte downstream of the dam, where only three specimens were collected. At the type locality (the igarapé do Arnaldo, a small tributary which was flooded during the damming of river), this species was the most abundant comprising 77% of all specimens collected. Found syntopic at Braço Norte reservoir with other species of Characiformes such as Cyphocharax cf. spilurus (Curimatidae), Leporinus friderici (Anostomidae), Serrapinus aff. micropterus, Astyanax aff. bimaculatus (Characidae), Hoplerythrinus unitaeniatus (Erythrinidae), Gymnotiformes like Gymnotus diamantinensis (Gymnotidae), and Cichliformes, i.e., Aequidens sp. and Apistogramma sp. (Cichlidae). Co-occurs with the following Characiformes: Leporinus desmotes (Anostomidae), Hemiodus quadrimaculatus (Hemiodontidae), Astyanax aff. bimaculatus , Bryconops sp., Jupiaba polylepis , Jupiaba paranatinga , Moenkhausia hasemani , Serrapinnus aff. micropterus (Characidae); and with a single species of Siluriformes, Hypostomus sp. (Loricariidae). Males and females have well-developed gonads during rainy and dry seasons. Oocytes in varied sizes were present in the gonads, suggesting multiple spawning of females. Feeds on algae and vegetal matter (Ref. 116744).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Ohara, W.M., J.M. Mirande and F.C.T. De Lima, 2017. Phycocharax rasbora, a new genus and species of Brazilian tetra (Characiformes: Characidae) from Serra do Cachimbo, rio Tapajós basin. PLoS ONE 12(2):e0170648. (Ref. 116744)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-1)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: of no interest
Tools
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Estimates based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 1.0000 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.00955 (0.00428 - 0.02132), b=3.12 (2.93 - 3.31), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this (Sub)family-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 3.0 ±0.4 se; based on size and trophs of closest relatives
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).
