Bryconops munduruku
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Bryconops munduruku | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Characiformes |
| Family: | Iguanodectidae |
| Genus: | Bryconops |
| Species: | B. munduruku |
| Binomial name | |
| Bryconops munduruku | |
Bryconops munduruku is a small freshwater fish of the family Iguanodectidae that lives in the rivers of South America. Its adipose fin is black, with a clear base, and it has two humeral spots, which is a feature it shares with few congeners. Its fins are a variety of yellow, red, black, and clear, and mature males have hooks on select fin-rays.
Originally cited from the lower Rio Tapajós, B. munduruku's name pays homage to its type locality. Known as the Tapajós-Tapera, a denomination of Munduruku Indians (an indigenous culture of Brazil) formed the settlement that became the municipality from whence B. munduruku was described, Aveiro.
Etymology
Bryconops munduruku is considered a member of the subgenus Creatochanes in the genus Bryconops.[1] It has been regarded as such since its description in 2015.[2] It is sometimes listed as a characin, or member of the family Characidae, but a study in 2011 moved the genera Bryconops, Piabucus, and Iguanodectes into a new family, Iguanodectidae.[3]
Bryconops munduruku has retained its original name, and has no known synonyms.[4]
The specific epithet of Bryconops munduruku is in reference to its type locality. A group of Munduruku Indians, the Tapajós-Tapera, settled in the place that would eventually become Aveiro, the municipality where B. mundukuru was discovered.[5] The genus name "Bryconops" means "resembling Brycon" ("ops" means "appearance").[6]
Description
Bryconops munduruku is a reddish color above the lateral line, with a light-gray belly.[2] It reaches a length of about 9.6 cm (3.8) at a maximum.[6] The upper regions of the head, jaw, and face are a dark gray color.[7] The eyes are red at the upper margin, and yellow everywhere else. The dorsal fin has a red base half and a hyaline (clear) outer half, which is a pattern shared by the caudal fin. The pectoral and pelvic fins, as well as the first few rays of the anal fin, are yellow.[2]
It has two humeral spots, which is a similarity it shares with congener B. inpai, but B. inpai has a stripe extending from its anal-fin base to its caudal-fin base whereas B. munduruku has a uniform color pattern therein.[8] The adipose fin is black with a clear base, which differentiates B. munduruku from B. inpai and B. piracolina, both of which have entirely black adipose fins.[6] B. piracolina can also be told from B. munduruku because its dorsal fin sports a large black blotch.[4]
Sexual dimorphism
Bryconops munduruku demonstrates sexual dimorphism. In mature males, several rays of the anal, pelvic, and dorsal fins bear hooks or spines that are absent in females.[7] The hooks on the anal fin are larger, while the ones on the dorsal and pelvic fins are more akin to spines.[2] This is a feature not uncommon in Bryconops, also demonstrated by congeners like B. florenceae,[9] B. cyrtogaster,[8] and B. gracilis.[10]