Mimagoniates

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 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", which occurs when the fish is searching for food. This gulping of air has no useful respiratory function.[2]

Species

The following species are accepted as valid today:[3]


References

  1. Axelrod (1964), ME [2008]
  2. Nelson (1964)
  3. FishBase (2011)


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