Teleostei (teleosts) >
Cyprinodontiformes (Rivulines, killifishes and live bearers) >
Poeciliidae (Poeciliids) > Poeciliinae
Etymology: Brachyrhaphis: Greek, brachys, eia = short + Greek, raphis = needle (Ref. 45335).
More on author: Regan.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; pelagic; pH range: 7.0 - 7.5; dH range: ? - 5; non-migratory. Tropical; 20°C - 26°C (Ref. 2059)
Central America: Río Térraba, Pacific drainage of Costa Rica to the Río Chiriquí, western Panama.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 6.0 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 36880)
Short description
Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics
Snout truncated. Anal fin much shorter than head length. Dorsal fin base very long. Vertical bars on body more conspicuous in adults, reduced to very short bars on the midline. Some populations have a dark band along the body, may be absent or diffuse on fish of other regions. Caudal fin bluish white on the margin, the proximal half is colorless and the intermediate area is darkened, especially in males. Distal half of dorsal fin yellow or orange; edge of first rays of anal fin orange or red, the black blotch sometimes absent. Bluish green highlights on iris, cheek and scales above pectoral fin (Ref.36880).
Inhabits stagnant waters or currents of all velocities between 40-1250 m of elevation; mainly in waters of moderate flow in brooks and creeks at temperatures of 20-23°C. Feeds on terrestrial insects (Ref. 36880).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Gestation period lasts for about 28 days. Female gives birth to 10-30 young. Reaches sexual maturity in 4 to 5 months.
Lucinda, P.H.F., 2003. Poeciliidae (Livebearers). p. 555-581. In R.E. Reis, S.O. Kullander and C.J. Ferraris, Jr. (eds.) Checklist of the Freshwater Fishes of South and Central America. Porto Alegre: EDIPUCRS, Brazil. (Ref. 50894)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-1)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Gamefish: yes
Tools
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Internet sources
Estimates based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.5002 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.00851 (0.00374 - 0.01935), b=3.14 (2.95 - 3.33), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this (Sub)family-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 3.5 ±0.50 se; based on food items.
Resilience (Ref.
120179): High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low vulnerability (10 of 100).
