Black-winged hatchetfish

The black-winged hatchetfish (Carnegiella marthae) is a freshwater ray-finned fish native to South America.

Black-winged hatchetfish
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Characiformes
Family:	Gasteropelecidae
Genus:	Carnegiella
Species:	C. marthae
Binomial name
Carnegiella marthae G. S. Myers, 1927

George Myers named this fish after his first wife Martha.

Description

Black-winged hatchetfish has a convex body. It has a very deep ventral profile with its anal fin set back. This species has wing-like pectoral fins that often extend to half of the fish's body length. In general, coloration is silver with black patches and stripes but, depending on the angle of light, colors may vary. A stripe that is usually gold stretches horizontally from the gill cover the base of the tail. Black-winged hatchetfish can reach up to 2.8 cm (1.1 in) in length.

Distribution and habitat

Black-winged hatchetfish live in the calm streams and pools of the Orinoco and Negro region in South America. They can be found in Brazil and Venezuela.

Diet

Black-winged hatchetfish are omnivorous. They can be fed live as well as flake foods. In the wild, they feed mainly at the surface for insects, but can also eat crustaceans.

In the aquarium

Black-winged hatchetfish are peaceful fish that will do well with many other types of tropical fish such as smaller species of catfish and tetras. Make sure that there are small floating plants. Cover every hole at the top of the aquarium because in the wild, hatchetfish catch insects by jumping out of the water. Blackwinged hatchetfish inhabit the top of the aquarium.

See also

• Freshwater hatchetfish