Characidium occidentale Buckup & Reis, 1997

Family:  Crenuchidae (South American darters), subfamily: Characidiinae
Max. size:  4.83 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  benthopelagic; freshwater
Distribution:  South America: left bank tributaries of the middle Uruguay River basin in Brazil (Ref. 37059). Reported from Argentina (Ref. 56308).
Diagnosis:  Dorsal soft rays (total): 12-14; Anal soft rays: 9-9. Dark spots on dorsal fin form a continuous band across rays; anterior portion of anal fin of males with one or two conspicuous dark blotches, followed by smaller spots on the posterior portion. The third or fourth ray of the pelvic fin longest, reaching the area between anal opening and anal fin origin or reaching anal fin origin (Ref. 27672).
Biology:  Known from the type locality which is a small creek with clear water and slow to moderate current, with loose stones, and in some places, mud on the bottom. Low vegetation are found along stream margins (Ref. 27672).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 06 May 2020 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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