Kingdom Animalia Class Actinopterygii Family Alestidae | Phylum Chordata Order Characiformes Rank Species | |
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Genus Arnoldichthys
G. S. Myers, 1926 Similar Brycinus longipinnis, Brycinus, Yellow‑tailed African tetra, Bathyaethiops, Alestidae | ||
Arnoldichthys spilopterus, the Niger tetra, is a characin endemic to Nigeria. It is the only member of its genus.
Contents
African red eye tetra arnoldichthys spilopterus
Description and ecology
Arnoldichthys spilopterus is a tropical freshwater species found only in a limited number of locations in Nigeria (Ogun and Niger rivers). Males are on average 9.6 centimetres (3.8 in) long. Its diet consists of worms, insects, and crustaceans. Females in captivity can lay about 1,000 eggs, which hatch within 30–34 hours.
Conservation
This species is currently classified as vulnerable by the IUCN due to its limited range coupled with losses to the aquarium trade and ongoing habitat degradation.
References
Arnoldichthys spilopterus Wikipedia(Text) CC BY-SA