the Kopfsteher is a species-rich family of South American Salmler, that live in the Caribbean islands and the subcontinent of Central America Plata as far as to the Rio de la southwards.
Shape Most Kopfsteher are from very uniform, long-stretched spindle-shaped shape. The high-re-y types of the Brachsensalmler (type Abramites) do an exception. The small one, bezahnte mouth is surrounded from powerful lips; it above-constantly can, endständig or under-constantly is ordered.
Way of life Many Kopfsteher swim inclined in characteristic manner with the head diagonally downward. One finds it mainly in slowly flowing, plant-hands waters. they live predominantly from vegetable and animal grew up, that they pull off from stones and water-plants. Some bigger types than good food-fish are valid.
Aquarium fish Known aquarium fish are a series of Kopfstehern, above all from the types of the Prachtkopfsteher (Anostomus) and the Schlammsalmler (Leporinus). The Schlammsalmler owe its Latin name to the mouth (leporinus = little hare) reminding of a Hasenschnute remotely.
The Gebänderte Kopfsteher (Leporinus fasciatus affinis, until 25 cm) wears nine ebony cross-bandages on yellow reason. Become green until brown-black and yellow vertical stripes, the Prachtkopfsteher (Anostomus anostomus, until 18 cm), that lives in the northeastern South America like the aforementioned type, has on the other hand. Both types peaceful fish are despite its size, that to the most decorative salmon-educational belongs.
The aquarianist knows even more "Kopfsteher", like Z. B. the dotted Kopfsteher (Chilodus punctatus punctatus, until 9 cm), that not nearer to another here, however, treated Salmlergruppe (Breitlingsalmler, family Curimatidae) fitting. This type shows an interesting performs courtship display and spawn-behavior and generates cracking lutes, that are to be heard also outside the aquarium well.
Scientific name: