Characidium tenue (Cope, 1894)

Family:  Crenuchidae (South American darters), subfamily: Characidiinae
Max. size:  5.6 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  benthopelagic; freshwater
Distribution:  South America: Uruguay River and Laguna dos Patos basins in Brazil (Ref. 37059). Reported from Argentina (Ref. 51923).
Diagnosis:  Dorsal soft rays (total): 12-12; Anal soft rays: 8-8. Is uniquely diagnosed by the W-shaped lateral marks on the body, which are formed by a concentration of melanophores in three scales of the lateral and two adjacent scales of the series situated immediately below. Is also distinguished from other species of Characidium from southern Brazil in having 12 series of scales around the caudal peduncle (14 in C. pterostictum), complete lateral line (incomplete in C. rachovii), 37-38 lateral scales (36 or fewer in C. orientale and C. occidentale); and lack of oblique bars below lateral line (10-14 such bars present in C. serrano).
Biology:  Occurs in diverse habitats including large sandy beaches of wide, open lagoon systems to smaller muddy or rocky streams with slow current or even swampy environments (Ref. 27672).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 06 May 2020 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless
Country info:   
 


Source and more info: www.fishbase.org. For personal, classroom, and other internal use only. Not for publication.