| Acestrorhynchus | |
|---|---|
| Acestrorhynchus sp. | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Characiformes |
| Superfamily: | Cynodontoidea |
| Family: | Acestrorhynchidae C. H. Eigenmann, 1912 |
| Genus: | Acestrorhynchus C. H. Eigenmann & C. H. Kennedy, 1903 |
| Species | |
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See text |
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Acestrorhynchus ("needle jaw" ) is a genus of 14 species of characiform fish found only in freshwater in South America, the sole genus in the family Acestrorhynchidae. Their greatest diversity is in the Orinoco and Amazon basins.
These fish have elongate pike-like bodies and large conical teeth, adapted for predation on other types of fish. They are sometimes referred to as freshwater barracuda in the aquarium trade, although the name is used of other characins as well. They range from 35 to 400 mm in length.
Common names are Cachorinho, Cachorro, Mopiye, Payala, Pejezorro, Pez cachorro, Pez zorro, Pike Characin, Moinge, Halatawéi, Halataway, Dagu fisi, Ueua, Wayabra, Zadoe, Freshwater Barracuda, saicanga, branca, cajaba, cachorra magra, cadelinha.
For aquarium care and more information, see http://www.thewatersnake.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=766