Black phantom tetra
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| Black Phantom Tetra Conservation status: Secure | ||||||||||||||
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| Missing image Hyphessobrycon_megalopterus.jpg Black phantom tetra | ||||||||||||||
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| Hyphessobrycon megalopterus (Eigenmann, 1915) |
The black phantom tetra (Hyphessobrycon megalopterus) is a freshwater fish of the characin family (family Characidae) of order Characiformes. It is native to the Paraguay, Guaporé, and Mamore basins in Brazil and Bolivia.
This fish is of roughly tetragonal shape, light grey in coloring, with a black patch, surrounded by iridescent silver edging, posterior of the gills on each side. The male's fins are black, as is the female's dorsal fin; the female's pelvic, anal, and adipose fins are reddish in color. A long-finned variety, apparently developed by captive breeders, is sometimes sold. The black phantom tetra reaches a maximum overall length of approximately 4.5 cm (1.75 in).
The black phantom tetra's natural diet consist of small crustaceans, insects, and worms.
H. herbertaxelrodi is one of the more popular tetras sold in the aquarium trade.
Megalomphodus megalopterus and Megalamphodus rogoaguae are obsolete synonyms for this species.