Bryconalestes

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Bryconalestes
Longfin tetra (Bryconalestes longipinnis) in an aquarium at Hellabrunn Zoo

Longfin tetra ( Bryconalestes longipinnis ) in an aquarium at Hellabrunn Zoo

Systematics
Cohort : Otomorpha
Sub-cohort : Ostariophysi
Otophysa
Order : Tetras (Characiformes)
Family : African tetras (Alestidae)
Genre : Bryconalestes
Scientific name
Bryconalestes
Hoedeman , 1951

Bryconalestes is a genus of fish from the family of the African tetras (Alestidae). The three species of the genus live in fresh waters of tropical Africa from Gambia to the Democratic Republic of the Congo .

features

Bryconalestes species have an elongated, laterally flattened body and are 8 to 12 cm long. The genus shows a clear sexual dimorphism , in the males the second to fourth or fifth branched fin rays of the dorsal fin are clearly elongated compared to the front unbranched and other branched fin rays. In addition, the first branched ray of the pelvic fins is noticeably elongated and the second a bit. The anal fin is supported by 18 to 26 soft rays, of which 15 to 23 are branched. 26 to 35 scales are counted along the lateral line , 5.5 to 6.5 rows of scales lie between the lateral line and the base of the dorsal fin. There are 12 to 15 gill rakes on the lower section of the first gill arch . In the Bryconalestes species, a narrow fontanel remains in the frontoparietal (a skull bone) even in adult animals.

Systematics

The genus Bryconalestes was introduced in 1951 by JJ Hoedeman for the long-fin tetra . However, no clear diagnosis was given for the genus ; it was only mentioned briefly in an identification key for African tetra. The long- fin tetra was therefore reassigned to the genus Brycinus together with two related species ( longipinnis species group) . In 2005 a phylogenetic analysis showed that the longipinnis species group and the two other species groups of Brycinus have a different position in the family tree of the African tetras, so that Brycinus is not monophyletic . The genus Bryconalestes was therefore revalidated again.

Bryconalestes intermedius

species

swell

  1. ^ A b Zanata, AM and RP Vari (2005): The family Alestidae (Ostariophysi, Characiformes): a phylogenetic analysis of a trans-Atlantic clade. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society v. 145: 1-144.
  2. ↑ Hoedeman, JJ (1951): Studies on African characid fishes I. The tribe Alestidi. Beaufortia v. 1 (no. 3): 1-8.

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