Microsternarchus is a genus of bluntnose knifefish that is found in creeks and streams, often in areas with submerged vegetation, roots and leaf litter, in the Amazon, Orinoco, EssequiboRupununi and Río de la Plata basins in South America.[1] The two recognized species are both small knifefish, with the largest being M. bilineatus at up to 12 cm (4.7 in) in total length. The other is M. brevis, which at up to only 5.3 cm (2.1 in) is the world's smallest knifefish.[2][3] Microsternarchus are very similar to Brachyhypopomus.[4]

Microsternarchus
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Gymnotiformes
Family: Hypopomidae
Genus: Microsternarchus
Fernández-Yépez, 1968

Species

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There are currently 2 recognized species in this genus:[2]

References

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  1. ^ a b Cox Fernandes, C., Nogueira, A., Williston, A. & Alves-Gomes, J.A. (2015): A new species of electric knifefish from the rio Negro, Amazon basin (Gymnotiformes: Hypopomidae, Microsternarchini). Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, 164 (1): 213-227.
  2. ^ a b Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Species in genus Microsternarchus". FishBase. December 2017 version.
  3. ^ van der Sleen, P.; J.S. Albert, eds. (2017). Field Guide to the Fishes of the Amazon, Orinoco, and Guianas. Princeton University Press. p. 334. ISBN 978-0691170749.
  4. ^ Crampton, W.G.R.; C.D. de Santana; J.C. Waddell; N.R. Lovejoy (2016). "A Taxonomic Revision of the Neotropical Electric Fish Genus Brachyhypopomus (Ostariophysi: Gymnotiformes: Hypopomidae), with Descriptions of 15 New Species". Neotropical Ichthyology. 14 (4). doi:10.1590/1982-0224-20150146.