Brycon

Brycon
Brycon hilarii
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Characiformes
Family: Characidae
Subfamily: Bryconinae
Genus: Brycon
J. P. Müller & Troschel, 1844
Type species
Brycon falcatus
J. P. Müller & Troschel, 1844

Brycon is a genus of fish in the family Bryconidae and order Characiformes found in freshwater habitats in Central and South America, ranging from southern Mexico to northern Argentina.[1] Despite not being closely related to true trout, they are sometimes called South American trout.[2] Members of the genus may be referred to by a number of other different common names in various languages. They reach a maximum length of 11.9–79.5 cm (4.7–31.3 in) depending on the species involved.[1] Some species perform seasonal breeding migrations.[3]

They feed heavily on fruits and seeds, but also take other plant material, invertebrates and small fish.[4][5] Their food is typically taken from the water, but they are able to jump out of the water to "pluck" low-hanging seeds and fruits directly from trees.[2] Some seeds are crushed when eaten, but may also pass undamaged through the fish, making them seed dispersers.[2][4][5]

Brycon support important fisheries and based on a review by IBAMA, they are the fifth most caught fish by weight in the Brazilian Amazon.[3]

Species

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There are currently 46 recognized species in this genus:[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Species in genus Brycon". FishBase. October 2016 version.
  2. ^ a b c "Brycons". British Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on 3 December 2010. Retrieved 9 March 2011.
  3. ^ a b Araujo-Lima, C.A.R.M.; and M.L. Ruffino (2003). Migratory Fishes of the Brazilian Amazon. Pp. 233—302 in: Carolsfeld, J.; B. Harvey; C. Ross; and A. Baer (editors). Migratory Fishes of South America. ISBN 0-9683958-2-1
  4. ^ a b Goulding, M (1980). The Fishes and the Forest: Explorations in Amazonian Natural History. University of California Press. pp. 68–100. ISBN 0-520-04131-3.
  5. ^ a b Reysa, P.; Sabino, J.; Galetti, M. (2009). "Frugivory by the fish Brycon hilarii (Characidae) in western Brazil". Acta Oecologica. 35 (1): 136–141. Bibcode:2009AcO....35..136R. doi:10.1016/j.actao.2008.09.007.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t Lima, F.C.T. (2017): A revision of the cis-andean species of the genus Brycon Müller & Troschel (Characiformes: Characidae). Zootaxa, 4222 (1): 1–189.
  7. ^ Angulo, A. & Gracian-Negrete, J.M. (2013): A new species of Brycon (Characiformes: Characidae) from Nicaragua and Costa Rica, with a key to the lower Mesoamerican species of the genus. Zootaxa, 3731 (2): 255–266.