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Gymnotiformes (Knifefishes) >
Apteronotidae (Ghost knifefishes) > Apteronotinae
Etymology: Sternarchorhynchus: Greek, sternon = sternon, + Greek, archos = anus + Greek, rhyngchos = snout (Ref. 45335); britskii: Named after Heraldo A. Britski, who first noted the presence of this species in the upper Parana system (Ref. 36352).
Eponymy: Dr Heraldo Antonio Britski is a Brazilian ichthyologist who was awarded a bachelor’s degree (1960) and a doctorate (1973) by Universidade de São Paulo where he is still a researcher, even though he is officially retired. [...] (Ref. 128868), visit book page.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; benthopelagic. Tropical
South America: Parana River basin.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 26.1 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 36886)
Short description
Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics
Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 0; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 166 - 178; Vertebrae: 80 - 90. Distinguished by its congeners by the following combination of features: length from the tip of the snout to the posterior end of the anal-fin base 92.4-94.4 %TL; mouth length 5.9-7.3 %HL; distance between anterior and posterior nares 2.6-3.1 %HL; eye diameter 3.1-4.1 %HL; postocular distance 40.0-44.4 %HL; pectoral fin length 35.5-41.3 %HL; scales always present above lateral line along anterodorsal region of body; unbranched anterior anal-fin rays 18-22; a white to yellowish white (sometimes indistinct) band on frontal portion of head and middorsum; and pectoral and anal fins hyaline to translucent, without dark distal margins; small ellipsoid caudal fin with 13-15 rays (Ref. 36352).
Body shape (shape guide): elongated; Cross section: compressed.
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
de Santana, C. D. and R.P. Vari, 2010. Electric fishes of the genus Sternarchorhynchus (Teleostei, Ostariophysi, Gymnotiformes); phylogenetic and revisionary studies. Zool. J. Linn. Soc. 159:223-371. (Ref. 84053)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2025-2)
Threat to humans
Harmless
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