Description

Vertebrae: 39 - 40. Diagnosis: Hepsetus microlepis is distinguished from H. occidentalis by a larger internasal distance, 23-31% of head length vs. 20-25%, and smaller nostril-lower jaw distance, 35-44% of head length vs. 40-48%, both positively allometric characters; it is distinguished from H. odoe by a generally higher number of lateral line scales, 47-60 vs. 43-51, and by a uniform body colour vs. a vague stripe pattern from the adipose fin to the caudal fin; it is distinguished from H. kingsleyae by a greater internasal distance, 23-31% of head length vs. 16-23%, and a greater head width, 32-46% of head length vs. 26-36%, which are both positively allometric; it is distinguished from H. lineatus by a combination of characters: a higher number of epibranchial gill rakers on the first gill arch, 4-9, exceptionally 13, vs. 0-6, and a smaller distance between dorsal and adipose fin, 9.2-12.8% of standard length vs. 12.6-16.4%; Hepsetus microlepis also has a uniform body colour, whereas H. lineatus has a prominent stripe on its flanks; Hepsetus microlepis is distinguished from H. cuvieri by a higher number of gill rakers on the first arch, 13-14 vs. 8-13, and by a greater head width, 32-46% of head length vs. 29-40%, and also a greater internasal distance, 23-31% of head length vs. 19-26%, with the latter two being positively allometric (Ref. 108775).

Common Names

No common names available.

Taxonomic Hierarchy

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Teleostei

Order: Characiformes

Family: Hepsetidae

Genus: Hepsetus

Species: Hepsetus microlepis (Boulenger, 1901)

Climate Zone

Location

Biology

Life cycle and mating behavior

Habitat

benthopelagic