Description

Opercular ocellus present.

Common Names

No common names available.

Taxonomic Hierarchy

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Teleostei

Order: Characiformes

Family: Erythrinidae

Genus: Hoplerythrinus

Species: Hoplerythrinus unitaeniatus (Spix & Agassiz, 1829)

Climate Zone

Location

Biology

Obligate air-breathing (Ref. 126274); Inhabits swamps and creeks with little current (Ref. 12225), as well as in flooded savannas (Ref. 27188). Regularly goes to the surface of the water to breathe. Can survive long periods out of the water. This behavior of breathing air at the surface makes the fish vulnerable to predation by electric eels (Ref. 27188). Is a predaceous omnivore of open waters. Feeds on aquatic invertebrates and to lesser degree, on fish. Specimens measuring 16 cm were found to be mature (Ref. 12225).

Habitat

pelagic