Teleostei (teleosts) >
Characiformes (Characins) >
Crenuchidae (South American darters) > Characidiinae
Etymology: Characidium: Diminutive of Charax, -akos = a fish without identification (Ref. 45335).
More on author: Cope.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; benthopelagic. Temperate
South America: Uruguay River and Laguna dos Patos basins in Brazil (Ref. 37059). Reported from Argentina (Ref. 51923).
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 5.6 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 27672)
Short description
Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics
Dorsal soft rays (total): 12; Anal soft rays: 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).
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).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturities | Reproduction | Spawnings | Egg(s) | Fecundities | Larvae
Buckup, P.A. and R.E. Reis, 1997. Characidiin genus Characidium (Teleostei, Characiformes) in Southern Brazil, with description of three new species. Copeia 1997(3):531-548. (Ref. 27672)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
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Estimates based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.5000 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.01000 (0.00244 - 0.04107), b=3.04 (2.81 - 3.27), in cm total length, based on all LWR estimates for this body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 3.4 ±0.3 se; based on size and trophs of closest relatives
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low vulnerability (10 of 100).