Hydrolycus | |
---|---|
Hydrolycus scomberoides | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Actinopterygii |
Order: | Characiformes |
Family: | Cynodontidae |
Subfamily: | Cynodontinae |
Genus: |
Hydrolycus ( J. P. Müller & Troschel, 1844) |
Hydrolycus is a genus of large dogtooth characins from tropical South America, where found in the Amazon and Orinoco basins, as well as rivers of the Guianas. [1] The genus includes the largest dogtooth characins, reaching up to 1.17 m (3.8 ft) in length. [1] They have long, pointed teeth (shorter and less extreme in H. wallacei) used for spearing their prey, generally smaller fish. [2] In a study of the stomachs of 45 individuals, most were empty, but among the remaining the prey fish were 15–50% of the length Hydrolycus itself. [3]
In 1999 two new species were described, the first in this genus in 158 years. [1] [2]
There are currently four described species. [1]
Hydrolycus | |
---|---|
Hydrolycus scomberoides | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Actinopterygii |
Order: | Characiformes |
Family: | Cynodontidae |
Subfamily: | Cynodontinae |
Genus: |
Hydrolycus ( J. P. Müller & Troschel, 1844) |
Hydrolycus is a genus of large dogtooth characins from tropical South America, where found in the Amazon and Orinoco basins, as well as rivers of the Guianas. [1] The genus includes the largest dogtooth characins, reaching up to 1.17 m (3.8 ft) in length. [1] They have long, pointed teeth (shorter and less extreme in H. wallacei) used for spearing their prey, generally smaller fish. [2] In a study of the stomachs of 45 individuals, most were empty, but among the remaining the prey fish were 15–50% of the length Hydrolycus itself. [3]
In 1999 two new species were described, the first in this genus in 158 years. [1] [2]
There are currently four described species. [1]