Hypopygus
Genus of fishes / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Hypopygus is a genus of South American gymnotiform knifefishes native to the Amazon, Orinoco and upper Paraguay basins, as well as rivers in the Guianas.[1][2] They are often common, and found near submerged roots, aquatic vegetation and leaf-litter in streams, edges of rivers and floodplains.[1] They are regularly found among vegetation in floating meadows, a habitat that often contains little oxygen, but they are well-adapted to this.[3]
Hypopygus | |
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Scientific classification ![]() | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Actinopterygii |
Order: | Gymnotiformes |
Family: | Hypopomidae |
Genus: | Hypopygus Hoedeman, 1962 |
Type species | |
Hypopygus lepturus Hoedeman, 1962 |
They are well-camouflaged and brown in color with a banded/mottled pattern.[1][2][4] They generally resemble the related Steatogenys, but are smaller,[5] reaching up to 5.9–12.2 cm (2.3–4.8 in) in total length depending on the exact species of Hypopygus.[6] The smallest is H. hoedemani, which is the second-smallest knifefish,[1] after Microsternarchus brevis.[7] They are nocturnal and feed on small invertebrates. During the day they remain hidden, often in groups that may number several dozen individuals.[1]