| Family: |
Hypopomidae (Bluntnose knifefishes) |
| Max. size: |
13.5 cm TL (male/unsexed); 11.9 cm TL (female) |
| Environment: |
benthopelagic; freshwater |
| Distribution: |
South America: lower río Ucayali and río Nanay in Peru. |
| Diagnosis: |
Anal soft rays: 174-197. Brachyhypopomus benjamini is distinguished from other species of the genus Brachyhypopomus by the absence of scales in middorsal region of anterior third of body (vs. presence in all congeners except B. provenzanoi) and by having speckled dorsal surface of body with small brown chromatophores on light brown background (vs. irregular pattern of distinct dark blotches on depigmented tan-colored background in B. provenzanoi). |
| Biology: |
Inhabits small low-conductivity blackwater terra firme rainforest streams. Found in and around submerged debris and leaf litter, and in root mats and holes along the stream banks. Feeds on small aquatic invertebrates in the type locality. Occurs sympatrically and syntopically with Brachyhypopomus beebei, B. brevirostris, B. sullivani, B. verdii, and B. walteri. Spawns during the rainy season, approximately December-April, in the area of the type locality (Ref. 116763). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
Source and more info: www.fishbase.org. For personal, classroom, and other internal use only. Not for publication.
