Astronotus
Encyclopedia
Astronotus is a genus
of South America
n fish from the family Cichlidae. The genus is one of three genera which make up the tribe Chaetobranchini. There are two species in the genus (listed below), both of which are found in the Amazon Basin
, while one of two also is found in the Paraná
and Paraguay
rivers. Astronotus species grow to 35 cm in size, and are monomorphic. They are opportunistic omnivore
s and consume a range of smaller fish, crustacean
s, mollusks and other invertebrate
s in the wild.
One species, Astronotus ocellatus
, is popular in the aquarium
trade where it goes under the trade name of the "Oscar". A. ocellatus forms monogamous pairs which spawn in the open, typically on a flattened stone or in a shallow depression. The juvenile colouration is different from that of the adult and may aid in camouflage of the fry.
In contrast, A. crassipinnis is rarely exported and is not seen often in the aquarium trade.
A photo of a varied strain of the fish, A Long Finned Oscar
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
of South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
n fish from the family Cichlidae. The genus is one of three genera which make up the tribe Chaetobranchini. There are two species in the genus (listed below), both of which are found in the Amazon Basin
Amazon Basin
The Amazon Basin is the part of South America drained by the Amazon River and its tributaries that drains an area of about , or roughly 40 percent of South America. The basin is located in the countries of Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, and Venezuela...
, while one of two also is found in the Paraná
Paraná River
The Paraná River is a river in south Central South America, running through Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina for some . It is second in length only to the Amazon River among South American rivers. The name Paraná is an abbreviation of the phrase "para rehe onáva", which comes from the Tupi language...
and Paraguay
Paraguay River
The Paraguay River is a major river in south central South America, running through Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay, and Argentina...
rivers. Astronotus species grow to 35 cm in size, and are monomorphic. They are opportunistic omnivore
Omnivore
Omnivores are species that eat both plants and animals as their primary food source...
s and consume a range of smaller fish, crustacean
Crustacean
Crustaceans form a very large group of arthropods, usually treated as a subphylum, which includes such familiar animals as crabs, lobsters, crayfish, shrimp, krill and barnacles. The 50,000 described species range in size from Stygotantulus stocki at , to the Japanese spider crab with a leg span...
s, mollusks and other invertebrate
Invertebrate
An invertebrate is an animal without a backbone. The group includes 97% of all animal species – all animals except those in the chordate subphylum Vertebrata .Invertebrates form a paraphyletic group...
s in the wild.
One species, Astronotus ocellatus
Astronotus ocellatus
Astronotus ocellatus is a species of fish from the cichlid family known under a variety of common names, including oscar, tiger oscar, velvet cichlid, or marble cichlid. In South America, where the species naturally resides, A. ocellatus specimens are often found for sale as a food fish in the...
, is popular in the aquarium
Aquarium
An aquarium is a vivarium consisting of at least one transparent side in which water-dwelling plants or animals are kept. Fishkeepers use aquaria to keep fish, invertebrates, amphibians, marine mammals, turtles, and aquatic plants...
trade where it goes under the trade name of the "Oscar". A. ocellatus forms monogamous pairs which spawn in the open, typically on a flattened stone or in a shallow depression. The juvenile colouration is different from that of the adult and may aid in camouflage of the fry.
In contrast, A. crassipinnis is rarely exported and is not seen often in the aquarium trade.
A photo of a varied strain of the fish, A Long Finned Oscar
Species
- Astronotus crassipinnis (HeckelJohann Jakob HeckelJohann Jakob Heckel was an Austrian taxidermist, zoologist, and ichthyologist from Mannheim.Though not a formally trained zoologist he worked his way up through the ranks to eventually become the director of the Fish Collection at the Naturhistorisches Museum in Vienna...
, 1840). - Astronotus ocellatusAstronotus ocellatusAstronotus ocellatus is a species of fish from the cichlid family known under a variety of common names, including oscar, tiger oscar, velvet cichlid, or marble cichlid. In South America, where the species naturally resides, A. ocellatus specimens are often found for sale as a food fish in the...
(AgassizLouis AgassizJean Louis Rodolphe Agassiz was a Swiss paleontologist, glaciologist, geologist and a prominent innovator in the study of the Earth's natural history. He grew up in Switzerland and became a professor of natural history at University of Neuchâtel...
, 1831).