Stats

Lifespan

5-7 yrs

Size

Small

Diet

Omnivore

Activity

Diurnal

Social

School

Biome

Freshwater wetland

Range

South America

Movement

Swimming

Breeding

Egg-laying

Defense

Schooling

Status

Rare

About

This small fish lives in the slow-moving backwaters of the Amazon River basin. It maintains a tight school by using its lateral line to sense the movements of neighbors.

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

Megalamphodus

Species

Megalamphodus eques