Ectrepopterus information

Ectrepopterus
Conservation status
Near Threatened  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Characiformes
Family:	Characidae
Genus:	Ectrepopterus Fowler, 1943
Species:	E. uruguayensis
Binomial name
Ectrepopterus uruguayensis Fowler, 1943
Synonyms[2]
Hyphessobrycon uruguayensis (Fowler, 1943) Megalamphodus uruguayensis (Fowler, 1943)

Ectrepopterus uruguayensis is a small species of characin originally recorded only from streams in Uruguay, with occasional sightings in Brazil and Argentina. It is the only known member of the genus Ectrepopterus, which was formerly a subgenus of Megalamphodus (now known as Hyphessobrycon). Given its restricted range, it is considered a rare fish, and is of note for conservation researchers interested in preserving the biodiversity of the region.

A small fish with silvery-gold scales and yellow fins, E. uruguayensis is characterized by a variety of features, including an incomplete lateral line and eyes wider than the snout is long. Something of particular note is the presence of bony hooks on the fin-rays of the pectoral fin, which is unusual for a characin; other members of Characidae may display these hooks on the pelvic or anal fins, but the pectoral fin is an uncommon location. E. uruguayensis can be found living in syntopy with other characids in the wild, such as the genera Bryconamericus and Astyanax, and has a preference for shallow, flowing waters with ample vegetation.