OSTEICHTHYES: CHARACIFORMES: CURIMATIDAE: Leporinus

Leporinus fasciatus (Block, 1794)

Banded Leporinus

Photo & text by Dr. Robert Sprackland

Range: Freshwater streams and rivers of southern Central and northern South America.

Diagnosis: A strongly banded yellow and black fish with clear fins, acutely pointed snout, and nearly cylindrical body.

Description: Grows to 55 cm/11 inches.

Natural History: This is a fairly aggressive fish that congregates in small schools. They feed on insects, small aquatic invertebrates, and soft algaes.

Reproduction: Egg-layer, but details unknown.

Taxonomy & Relationships:

Variation:

Additional Comments:

Type Specimen: Lost. Type locality Suriname (?)

Literature: