Teleostei (teleosts) >
Gymnotiformes (Knifefishes) >
Apteronotidae (Ghost knifefishes) > Apteronotinae
Etymology: Sternarchorhynchus: Greek, sternon = sternon, + Greek, archos = anus + Greek, rhyngchos = snout (Ref. 45335); mesensis: From "Serra da Mesa", an area in the upper Rio Tocantins region, Brazil.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; benthopelagic. Tropical
South America: Tocantins River basin.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 24.9 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 36886)
Short description
Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics
Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 0; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 171 - 189; Vertebrae: 80 - 110. Distinguished from its congeners by the following combination of features: mouth length 5.4-6.4 %HL; postocular distance 36.4-41.0 %HL; pectoral fin length 27.0-35.3 %HL; scales always present above lateral line at anterodorsal region of body, in 11-13 rows above lateral line at midbody; anterior unbranched anal-fin rays 23-28; and a white to yellowish-white (sometimes indistinct) band on frontal portion of head and middorsum; caudal fin with 13-15 rays (Ref. 36352).
Collected from caves within the São Domingos karst region in the upper portions of the Rio Tocantins basin. The species occur in both subterranean and surface drainages and appears to be well adapted to epigean habitats as indicated by the overall condition and sexual maturity of the individuals from cave habitats (Ref. 84053).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
de Santana, C. D. and R.P. Vari, 2010. Electric fishes of the genus Sternarchorhynchus (Teleostei, Ostariophysi, Gymnotiformes); phylogenetic and revisionary studies. Zool. J. Linn. Soc. 159:223-371. (Ref. 84053)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-1)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
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Estimates based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.5000 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.00355 (0.00145 - 0.00867), b=3.06 (2.85 - 3.27), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this (Sub)family-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 3.3 ±0.3 se; based on size and trophs of closest relatives
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low vulnerability (15 of 100).