Sternarchella rex Evans, Crampton & Albert, 2017

Family:  Apteronotidae (Ghost knifefishes), subfamily: Apteronotinae
Max. size:  40.4 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  benthopelagic; freshwater; depth range 2 - 4 m
Distribution:  South America.
Diagnosis:  This species is distinguished from its all congeners by the following set of characters: head wide, HW 46-64% HL (vs. 36-45% HL): interorbital distance large, IO 18-27% HL and body depth greater than or equal to HL (vs.11-22% HL and body depth less than HL, respectively in calhamazon. duccis, orinoco, orthos, patriciae, raptor, schotti) (shared with sima); with an ossified third basibranchial bone (vs. unossified) (shared with schotti) and anal-fin pterygiophores that are longer than hemal spines (vs. short anal-fin pterygiophores in duccis, orinoco, orthos, patriciae, raptor) (shared with calhamazon, patriciae, S. schotti) (Ref. 126780).
Biology:  Occurs over substrate comprised of mud and organic debris. Stomachs examined contained unidentified fish scales, skin and fine bones and aquatic arthropods were absent. Caught with seine nets deployed from the middle of the paranĂ¡ channel to the edge (Ref. 126780).
IUCN Red List Status: Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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