Leporinus fasciatus

Leporinus fasciatus, commonly known as the banded leporinus[2] or the black-banded leporinus,[3] is a species of characin in the family Anostomidae. L. fasciatus is native to the Amazon Basin in South America, but has been introduced into the US states of Florida and Hawaii.[4] It has not been observed from Hawaii as of 2005; the species is thought to have been extirpated in the region.[2]

Leporinus fasciatus
L. fasciatus in an aquarium
Illustration of L. fasciatus in Bloch et al.
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Characiformes
Family: Anostomidae
Genus: Leporinus
Species:
L. fasciatus
Binomial name
Leporinus fasciatus
(Bloch, 1794)
Synonyms[1]
  • Salmo fasciatus
  • Leporinus novem fasciatus

Leporinus fasciatus has been recorded to reach 30 centimetres (12 in) in length, although individuals reach maturity around 15 centimetres (5.9 in).[5] L. fasciatus is yellow with black stripes, frequently also exhibiting orange markings on the head and tail fin.[6] There is some variation in colouration, with a bright yellow or beige body and transparent fins.[1] There are eight to twelve vertical bands on the body.[7] Females may be distinguished from males in that adult females are larger.[1] L. fasciatus is omnivorous: its diet comprises vegetative matter as well as other fish, worms, and crustaceans.[5]

Leporinus fasciatus is tropical freshwater species, native to the rivers and flooded forests of South America. Its range encompasses the Amazon Basin.[5] L. fasciatus has also been recorded in the US states of Florida and Hawaii, probably introduced accidentally as a result of aquarium releases. However, it has not been reported from Hawaii for several years; therefore the Hawaii population is thought to have been extirpated.[2] It is generally found in fast-flowing waters.[5]

L. fasciatus plays a minor role in fisheries. Its main importance to humans is in the aquarium trade.[5] L. fasciatus may jump if startled, necessitating aquariums with strong tops.[1] In captivity, L. fasciatus can eat algae, vegetative matter, and flake food in addition to the worms, insects, and crustaceans it would catch in the wild. It can be kept with other fish, and has been described as "hardy".[1]

References
  1. Butler, Rhett. "Black-banded Leporinus, Banded Leporinus". MongaBay. Retrieved 16 November 2010.
  2. Nico, Leo; Pamela J. Schofield. "Leporinus fasciatus (Bloch)". Nonindigenous Aquatic Species. US Geological Survey. Retrieved 13 November 2010.
  3. "Leporinus fasciatus". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 13 November 2010.
  4. Reis, Roberto E; Sven O. Kullander; Carl J. Ferraris (2003). Check list of the freshwater fishes of South and Central America. EDIPUCRS. ISBN 85-7430-361-5.
  5. Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2010). "Leporinus fasciatus" in FishBase. September 2010 version.
  6. Goulding, Michael (1980). The fishes and the forest. University of California Press. ISBN 978-0-520-04131-8.
  7. Birindelli, José L. O.; Heraldo A. Britski (2009). "New species of the genus Leporinus Agassiz (Characiformes: Anostomidae) from the rio Curuá, rio Xingu basin, Serra do Cachimbo, Brazil, with comments on Leporinus reticulatus". Neotropical Ichthyology. São Paulo. 7 (1): 1–9. doi:10.1590/S1679-62252009000100001. ISSN 1679-6225.
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