Acestrorhynchus ("needle jaw" ) is a genus of freshwater ray-finned fishes belonging to the family Acestrorhynchidae. The fishes in this genus are found South America. It is the sole genus in the subfamily Acestrorhynchinae. Their greatest diversity is in the Orinoco and Amazon basins.
These fish have elongated pike-like bodies and large conical teeth, adapted for predation on other types of fish. They are sometimes referred to as freshwater barracudas in the aquarium trade, although the name is used of other characins as well. They range from in length.
Until recently, they were considered the only genus in the family Acestrorhynchidae, but phylogenetic studies have recovered several smaller characins previously placed elsewhere in the family (known as "biting tetras") as closely related to them.
Common names are cachorinho, cachorro, mopiye, payala, pejezorro, pez cachorro, pez zorro, pike characin, moinge, halatawéi, halataway, dagu fisi, ueua, wayabra, zadoe, freshwater barracuda, saicanga, branca, cajaba, cachorra magra, cadelinha and dentudo.
Species There are currently 14 valid species: Acestrorhynchus abbreviatus (Cope, 1878) Acestrorhynchus altus Menezes, 1969 Acestrorhynchus britskii Menezes, 1969 Acestrorhynchus falcatus (Bloch, 1794) (freshwater barracuda, spotted cachorro) Acestrorhynchus falcirostris (G. Cuvier, 1819) (slender freshwater barracuda, big-eyed cachorro) Acestrorhynchus grandoculis Menezes & Géry, 1983 Acestrorhynchus heterolepis (Cope, 1878) Acestrorhynchus isalineae Menezes & Géry, 1983 Acestrorhynchus lacustris (Lütken, 1875) Acestrorhynchus maculipinna Menezes & Géry, 1983 Acestrorhynchus microlepis (Jardine, 1841) (pike characin) Acestrorhynchus minimus Menezes, 1969 Acestrorhynchus nasutus C. H. Eigenmann, 1912 Acestrorhynchus pantaneiro Menezes, 1992
References
Aquarium info