Description

The semipelagial Astyanax cocibolca can be readily separated from the A. aeneus that inhabits some of the same habitats in Lake Nicaragua by its slender body 29.1-36.4% SL (vs. 33.9-39.3% SL); with slightly upturned mouth; high total gill raker count 23-34, mean 28.9 (vs. 22-26, mean 24.1); reduced size of dentary teeth; fewer scale rows above lateral line 6-8, mean 7.2 (vs. 8-9, mean 8.3); more intense black midlateral band; smaller size, maximum 54.3 (vs. greater than 80 mm SL); conical teeth in outer row of premaxillary bone (vs. only tricuspid outer row teeth) (Ref. 83537).

Common Names

No common names available.

Taxonomic Hierarchy

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Teleostei

Order: Characiformes

Family: Characidae

Genus: Astyanax

Species: Astyanax cocibolca Bussing, 2008

Climate Zone

Location

Biology

This filter-feeding specialist utilizes the open-water habitat, at least as a nursery where young can feed on the rich plankton population. Two small adults from the open water habitat contained 90% copepoda and cladocera while inshore specimens contained 90% fruit, 5% cladocera, 5% seed, algae. The adult female from open water contained ripe eggs, although 10 adult females from inshore sites contained only undeveloped eggs (Ref. 83537).

Habitat

pelagic