Re: off topic: croaking tetra?

[Marco Lacerda <marcolacerda@ax.apc.org>]

swaldron@slip.net wrote:
> 
> forgive the characin ignorance, but has anyone experience with a tetra
> called the croaking? 

The name "croaking tetras" applies to members of the genus Mimagoniates, 
a Characin of the Glandulocaudinae subfamily.
The name was originally used for the species Mimagoniates inequalis, 
that indeed makes a spawning sound like a "croak", but currently extends 
to the other species within the genus.
Dr. Stanley Weitzman and other ichthyologists published an excelent 
series of articles about these fishes in TFH magazine.

> I have no idea what its scientific name or where its
> from but looks a lot like like an elongate, narrow bodied emperor. The
> males have the typical sparring behavior like emperors, they also do an
> interesting stiff, low slung pectoral fin display, not unlike the
> aggressive displays of certain sharks. anyone?

The commonest species in the hobby is Mimagoniates microlepis, the "blue 
croaking tetra".
Another species is the "chocolate croaking tetra", Mimagoniates 
lateralis, that is a dwarf form (adult size 1.5 inch) that is living 
exclusively in blackwater biotopes in South Eastern Brazil. This species 
is very colorful, of a beautiful red-brown reminding chocolate colour.

Cheers


>




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