TAXONOMY:
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes)
Order: Characiformes (Characins)
Family: Characidae (Characins)

Genus/species: Paracheirodon axelrodi

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS: Dark above, Iridescent blue line characteristic of the Paracheirodon species laterally bisecting the fish, with the body below this line being vivid red in color,

Length up to 3 cm (1.1 inch)

 

DISTRIBUTION/HABITAT: South America: Upper Rio Orinoco and Rio Negro. Found in schools of 12–30 over shoals in the middle water column; non-migratory.

DIET IN THE WILD: Omnivorous, Small crustaceans, worms filamentous algae and fallen fruit.

Cardinal Tetra 10286374786_182498b862_o

MORTALITY and LONGEVITY: The bright, neon, lateral stripe of cardinal tetras makes it difficult for predators to single out and attack an individual. Their schooling behavior also helps to protect individuals from predators.

Adults often perish due to starvation after spring floods when foraging habitats retract during the low water season. They are preyed upon by other fishes including piranha.

Cardinal Tetra live about one year in the wild average 5 years in captivity.

CONSERVATION: IUCN: Not evaluated.

References

California Academy of Sciences Steinhart Aquarium Flooded Amazon 2018

Ron’s flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/cas_docents/10286374786/in/set-72157625825649576/

Ron’s WordPress Shortlink  http://wp.me/p1DZ4b-18X

Animal diversity web ADW  animaldiversity.org/accounts/Paracheirodon_axelrodi/

fishbase. www.fishbase.org/summary/Paracheirodon-axelrodi.html

Encyclopedia of lifel eol.org/pages/213459/details