Pristella maxillaris is a species of characin in the genus Pristella, and is commonly known as the X-ray fish or X-ray tetra because of its translucent body.[4]
| Pristella maxillaris | |
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Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Characiformes |
| Family: | Characidae |
| Genus: | Pristella |
| Species: | P. maxillaris
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| Binomial name | |
| Pristella maxillaris (Ulrey, 1894)
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| Synonyms[3] | |
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Description
editIt is a widely distributed and adaptable fish, found in the Amazon and Orinoco basins, as well as coastal rivers in the Guianas in both acidic and alkaline waters.[5] Unlike most other characins, it is tolerant of (and sometimes found in) slightly brackish water.[6] It is small (up to around 5 cm or 2.0 in in length) and lives in large groups, and males can be distinguished from females by being smaller and thinner than the females. Like most other tetras, it feeds primarily on small insects and planktonic animals.[7]
Nomenclature
editOlder aquarium books often refer to this species by the junior synonym Pristella riddlei. Aquarists tend to refer to this fish as the golden pristella tetra, though some call it the X-ray tetra, instead. Other common names include goldfinch tetra, a reference to the similarly coloured goldfinch, and pristella tetra, a modification of its Latin name. A common name that was once widespread but is now rarely used is signal tetra, a reference to the similarity between the yellow and black dorsal fin and the arm of a semaphore railway signal.
In aquaria
editPristella maxillaris is a small, adaptable fish that is often kept in a home aquarium and will eat most fish foods. It is tolerant of a range of water chemistry values (pH 6–8; hardness up to 20 dGH). As a shoaling species, it is usually kept in groups of at least six specimens and away from aggressive or predatory tankmates, but is otherwise easily kept in the community tank. The minimum aquarium size is typically 60 x 30 cm (15 Gallons).[citation needed]
Ideally, this species can be kept in a tank containing live plants that provide cover and comfort to the tetras, they thrive in a planted environment with well filtered and oxygen rich water with plenty of open swimming space and a greater swimming area.
Some retailers offer an albino variant, which are nearly transparent with visible organs, while keeping their characteristic red tail. This variant is named the "Red Belly X Ray" tetra. Their care specifics are exactly the same as traditional Pristella maxillaris.
References
edit- ^ Taphorn, D.C.; DoNascimiento, C.; Herrera-Collazos, E.E.; Mojica, J.I.; Rodríguez-Olarte, D.; Usma, S. (2021). "Pristella maxillaris". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2021: e.T175969814A175969826. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-2.RLTS.T175969814A175969826.en. Retrieved 23 December 2023.
- ^ Ulrey, Albert B. (1894). "Preliminary Descriptions of Some New South American Characinidæ". The American Naturalist. 28 (331): 611–612. doi:10.1086/275979. JSTOR 2452600.
- ^ "Synonyms of Pristella maxillaris (Ulrey, 1894)". FishBase. Retrieved 6 February 2017.
- ^ Froese, R.; Pauly, D. (eds.). "Common name search result". FishBase. Retrieved 2006-12-22.
- ^ Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Pristella maxillaris". FishBase. October 2011 version.
- ^ Monks N. (editor): Brackish Water Fishes, TFH 2006, ISBN 0-7938-0564-3
- ^ BBC. "Amazing animals - x-ray fish". BBC. Retrieved 2006-12-22.
External links
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Media related to Pristella maxillaris at Wikimedia Commons- Pristella Tetra Fact Sheet
