Scientific Name
Austrolebias bellottii

Common Name
Argentine pearlfish

Biology
Seasonal toothcarp living in waters that dry up during the dry season. The adult fishes die but the eggs survive in the mud and hatch in the next rainy season. Feeds on worms, crustaceans and insects (Ref. 7020). Bottom spawner, 4 months incubation. Is easy to maintain in the aquarium (Ref. 27139).

Classification

Classified By

Steindachner, 1881

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Live bearers, Killifishes and Rivulines (Cyprinodontiformes)

Family

Rivulines (Rivulidae)

Distribution

Region

South America

Distribution

South America: Lower Paran? and Uruguay River basins.

Range

Unknown

Environment

Climate

Subtropical

Water Temperature From

18 °C

Water Temperature To

22 °C

Depth From - meters

Unknown m

Depth To - meters

Unknown m

Zone

benthopelagic

Environment

Freshwater; ; pH range: 6.5 - 7.0; dH range: 5 - 8 benthopelagic; non-migratory

Trophic Level

3.26 s.e. 0.40 Based on food items.

Occurs in Marine / Salt water

False

Occurs in Brackish water

False

Occurs in Fresh Water

True

Occurs on Reefs

False

Is kept in Aquariums

True

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

7.0 cm

Common Length

Unknown cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 0.5000 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Fisheries: of no interest; aquarium: commercial

Vulnerability

Low vulnerability (10 of 100)

Resilience

High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (tmax=1)

Threat To Humans

Harmless

IUCN Red List Status

Not Evaluated