Bryconops cyrtogaster
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| Bryconops cyrtogaster | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Preserved specimen | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Characiformes |
| Family: | Iguanodectidae |
| Genus: | Bryconops |
| Species: | B. cyrtogaster |
| Binomial name | |
| Bryconops cyrtogaster (Norman, 1926) | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
| |
Bryconops cyrtogaster is a midsize species of freshwater ray-finned fish belonging to the family Iguanodectidae.This species is found in the Oyapock river in French Guiana and Brazil. It is overall silver, with an indistinct dark patch at the base of the tail fin that spreads onto the fin rays slightly. Originally described in 1926 under a different baisonym, it was the subject of a redescription in June 2020.
Bryconops cyrtogaster is about 12 cm (4.7 in) in total length,[2] which makes it slightly longer than the average member of its genus.[3] Its scales are generally silver, with a faint lateral line towards its back half.[4] One of its identifying features is a diffuse dark patch on the caudal peduncle that bleeds into the upper lobe of the caudal fin.[5] It also has a single humeral spot above each pectoral fin.[6]
The snout is short and the eye wide in comparison, the latter larger than the former.[4] The mouth itself is terminal, equipped with multicuspid teeth (a feature seen in all members of Bryconops, as well as sister clade Iguanodectinae).[6][7] The origin of the dorsal fin is slightly closer to the caudal fin than to the tip of the snout.[4]
Bryconops cyrtogaster bears several morphological similarities to other members of the genus. It shares the presence of a single humeral patch with congeners Bryconops humeralis, Bryconops vibex, and Bryconops marabaixo, but can be differentiated from the former two by a deeper body and a humeral spot located slightly farther back on the body. B. marabaixo has fewer predorsal scales and a shorter maxillary than B. cyrtogaster. Overall, B. cyrtogaster bears the greatest similarity to B. marabaixo, Bryconops inpai, and Bryconops munduruku.[6]
Until 2020, Bryconops cyrtogaster was generally poorly studied, but received a redescription by Silva-Oliveira et al. in June of that year.[6] The same study that cemented its characteristics also named similar congener B. marabaixo.