Leporinus fasciatus
Encyclopedia
Leporinus fasciatus, commonly known as the banded leporinus or the black-banded leporinus, is a species of characin in the family Anostomidae
. L. fasciatus is native to the River Amazon and other rivers in South America
, but has been introduced
into the US states of Florida
and Hawaii
. It has not been observed from Hawaii as of 2005; the species is thought to have gone extinct in the region.
Leporinus fasciatus has been recorded to reach 30 centimetres (11.8 in) in length, although individuals reach maturity around 15 centimetres (5.9 in). L. fasciatus is yellow with black stripes, frequently also exhibiting orange markings on the head and tail fin. There is some variation in colouration, with a bright yellow or beige body and transparent fins. There are eight to twelve vertical bands on the body. Females may be distinguished from males in that adult females are larger. L. fasciatus is omnivorous: its diet comprises vegetative matter as well as other fish, worms, and crustaceans.
Leporinus fasciatus is tropical freshwater species, native to the rivers and flooded forests of South America. Its range encompasses the area from Guiana
to the La Plata Basin
and the River Amazon. L. fasciatus has also been recorded in the US states of Florida and Hawaii, probably introduced accidentally as a result of aquarium releases. However, it has not been reported from Hawaii for several years; therefore the Hawaii population is thought to have been extirpated
. It is generally found in fast-flowing waters.
L. fasciatus plays a minor role in fisheries. Its main importance to humans is in the aquarium trade. L. fasciatus may jump if startled, necessitating aquariums with strong tops. In captivity, L. fasciatus can eat algae, vegetative matter, and flake food in addition to the worms, insects, and crustaceans it would catch in the wild. It can be kept with other fish, and has been described as "hardy".
Anostomidae
The Anostomidae are a family of ray-finned fishes that belong to the order Characiformes. Closely related to the Chilodontidae and formerly included with them, the Anostomidae contain over 140 described species...
. L. fasciatus is native to the River Amazon and other rivers in 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...
, but has been introduced
Introduced species
An introduced species — or neozoon, alien, exotic, non-indigenous, or non-native species, or simply an introduction, is a species living outside its indigenous or native distributional range, and has arrived in an ecosystem or plant community by human activity, either deliberate or accidental...
into the US states of Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
and Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
. It has not been observed from Hawaii as of 2005; the species is thought to have gone extinct in the region.
Leporinus fasciatus has been recorded to reach 30 centimetres (11.8 in) in length, although individuals reach maturity around 15 centimetres (5.9 in). L. fasciatus is yellow with black stripes, frequently also exhibiting orange markings on the head and tail fin. There is some variation in colouration, with a bright yellow or beige body and transparent fins. There are eight to twelve vertical bands on the body. Females may be distinguished from males in that adult females are larger. L. fasciatus is omnivorous: its diet comprises vegetative matter as well as other fish, worms, and crustaceans.
Leporinus fasciatus is tropical freshwater species, native to the rivers and flooded forests of South America. Its range encompasses the area from Guiana
Guiana
The Guiana Shield is one of the three cratons of the South American Plate. It is a 1.7 billion year old Precambrian geological formation in northeast South America that forms a portion of the northern coast. The higher elevations on the shield are called the Guiana Highlands, which is where the...
to the La Plata Basin
La Plata Basin
The Río de la Plata Basin , sometimes called the Platine basin or Platine region, is the name given to the hydrographical area that covers parts of Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay and Uruguay...
and the River Amazon. L. fasciatus has also been recorded in the US states of Florida and Hawaii, probably introduced accidentally as a result of aquarium releases. However, it has not been reported from Hawaii for several years; therefore the Hawaii population is thought to have been extirpated
Local extinction
Local extinction, also known as extirpation, is the condition of a species which ceases to exist in the chosen geographic area of study, though it still exists elsewhere...
. It is generally found in fast-flowing waters.
L. fasciatus plays a minor role in fisheries. Its main importance to humans is in the aquarium trade. L. fasciatus may jump if startled, necessitating aquariums with strong tops. In captivity, L. fasciatus can eat algae, vegetative matter, and flake food in addition to the worms, insects, and crustaceans it would catch in the wild. It can be kept with other fish, and has been described as "hardy".