Stats

Lifespan

3-5 yrs

Size

Small

Diet

Omnivore

Activity

Diurnal

Social

School

Biome

Freshwater wetland

Range

South America

Movement

Swimming

Breeding

Egg-laying

Defense

Camouflage

Status

Rare

About

This small fish lives in the murky rivers of the Amazon and Orinoco basins. Its skin is so transparent that its internal organs and skeleton are clearly visible.

Life cycle

1. 1.
   hatchling fry

   A tiny fry hatches with a yolk sac and begins free-swimming once the sac is absorbed.
2. 2.
   juvenile

   A juvenile takes on adult body shape and feeds on small prey, often in nursery waters.
3. 3.
   adult

   Fully grown at adult size and coloration.

Learn more

• View on iNaturalist →
• Watch on YouTube →

Taxonomy

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Chordata

Class

Actinopterygii

Order

Characiformes

Family

Acestrorhamphidae

Genus

Pristella

Species

Pristella maxillaris