Description

Common Names

No common names available.

Taxonomic Hierarchy

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Teleostei

Order: Characiformes

Family: Gasteropelecidae

Genus: Gasteropelecus

Species: Gasteropelecus sternicla (Linnaeus, 1758)

Climate Zone

Location

Biology

Gregarious, can sometimes be aggressive or calm. Frequents slow-flowing waters of creeks and swamps (Ref. 27188). Lives in groups at the surface. It is capable of capturing small aerial insects. The females are bigger than the males. Feeds on worms, crustaceans and insects (Ref. 7020). Has not been bred in captivity (Ref. 27188). Aquarium specimens reach 6.5 cm TL (Ref. 7020). Aquarium keeping: in groups of 5 or more individuals; may jump out of the aquarium; minimum aquarium size 80 cm (Ref. 51539).

Habitat

pelagic