Paracheirodon axelrodi

(Schultz, 1956)

Vernacular names
English : Cardinal tetra
French : Néon rouge

Classification
Class : Teleostei
Order : Characiformes
Family : Characidae
Notes : No subspecies known.

Identification
Adults can reach up to 2.5 cm in length. Cylindrical body with small mouth. The whole lower half, tail peduncle and tail are bright red, back is salmon pink and there is a large neon blue band running from mouth and eye to end of back.

Range and habitat
The species occurs in South America, in the upper bassins of Orinoco and Rio Negro rivers, in Brazil, Colombia and Venezuela. Lives in small to medium rivers, in mid-water.

Conservation
IUCN RED LIST : NOT LISTED
CITES : Not Listed
Status : The species hasn’t been assessed yet. It is still collected in huge numbers and this, coupled with habitat destruction, could become a threat.
Ex-Situ Programs : None known

Observation

 

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