Since the aquarium trade may use a different name for the same species, advanced aquarists tend to use scientific names for the less-common tetras. Īlthough the list below is sorted by common name, in a number of cases, the common name is applied to different species. During the 1940s and 1950s, it was among the best sellers of all characin fish. At one time, almost no community aquarium was complete without this fish. Ichthyologists debate the function of the adipose fin, doubting its role in swimming due to its small size and lack of stiffening rays or spines. The flame tetra, or Von Rio tetra, is one of the most entrancing beauties of all freshwater aquarium fish, especially when it is sporting its full breeding colors. While this adipose fin is generally considered the distinguishing feature, some tetras (such as the emperor tetras, Nematobrycon palmeri) lack this appendage. This adipose fin represents the fourth unpaired fin on the fish (the four unpaired fins are the caudal fin, dorsal fin, anal fin, and adipose fin), lending to the name tetra, which is Greek for four. Additionally, tetras possess a long anal fin stretching from a position just posterior of the dorsal fin and ending on the ventral caudal peduncle, and a small, fleshy adipose fin located dorsally between the dorsal and caudal fins. They ordinarily possess a homocercal caudal fin (a twin-lobed, or forked, tail fin whose upper and lower lobes are of equal size) and a tall dorsal fin characterized by a short connection to the fish's body. Tetras generally have compressed (sometimes deep), fusiform bodies and are typically identifiable by their fins. For example, payara ( Hydrolycus scomberoides) is occasionally known as the " sabretooth tetra" or "vampire tetra". Even vastly different fish may be called tetras. It is short for Tetragonopterus, a genus name formerly applied to many of these fish, which is Greek for "square-finned" (literally, four-sided-wing).īecause of the popularity of tetras in the fishkeeping hobby, many unrelated fish are commonly known as tetras, including species from different families. Tetra is no longer a taxonomic, phylogenetic term. Common Name(s)Flame Tetra, Von Rio Tetra, Red TetraScientific NameHyphessobrycon flammeusOriginSoutheast BrazilTemperature72F 82FSize1 inchFood. Consequently, they are extremely popular for home aquaria. Small and slender, they reach an adult size of only an inch and a half in length. Colors and Markings Peaceful and easy to care for, the glowlight tetra is one of the most popular of all tetras. It was introduced to the aquarium trade in 1933. Many of these, such as the neon tetra ( Paracheirodon innesi), are brightly colored and easy to keep in captivity. The glowlight tetra is bred in captivity, and it is exported from both Asia and Germany. The Characidae are distinguished from other fish by the presence of a small adipose fin between the dorsal and caudal fins. Tetras come from Africa, Central America, and South America, belonging to the biological family Characidae and to its former subfamilies Alestidae (the "African tetras") and Lebiasinidae. Tetra is the common name of many small freshwater characiform fishes.
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