| Mimagoniates | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Superclass: | Osteichthyes |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Subclass: | Neopterygii |
| Infraclass: | Teleostei |
| Superorder: | Ostariophysi |
| Order: | Characiformes |
| Family: | Characidae |
| Subfamily: | Stevardiinae |
| Genus: | Mimagoniates Regan, 1907 |
| Type species | |
| Mimagoniates barberi Regan 1907 |
|
| Species | |
|
7, see text |
|
| Synonyms | |
|
Coelurichthys Miranda-Ribeiro, 1908 |
|
Mimagoniates is a genus of Stevardiinae, a subfamily of tropical characid fish from Central and South America. Commonly known as croaking tetras or chirping tetras because they can produce sounds, some of these fish were formerly included in Glandulocauda.
They have a supplementary breathing organ located above the gills which makes a faint chirping sound when these fish come to the surface to gulp air. It also plays a role in courtship as the male chases and hovers near the female while taking gulps of air and expelling it to make a rhythmic noise. [1]
Croaking behavior may have evolved from a behavior called "surface nipping", behavior that occurs when the fish is searching for food. This gulping of air has no useful respiratory function.[2]
The following species are accepted as valid today:[3]