| Deuterodon heterostomus | |
|---|---|
| |
| 1911 illustration | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Characiformes |
| Family: | Characidae |
| Genus: | Deuterodon |
| Species: | D. heterostomus
|
| Binomial name | |
| Deuterodon heterostomus Eigenmann, 1911
| |
| Synonyms[2] | |
|
Probolodus heterostomus (Eigenmann, 1911) | |
Deuterodon heterostomus is a small species of characin endemic to a large river system in southeast Brazil. It was originally the only member of the genus Probolodus, but Probolodus is now considered obsolete, synonymized with Deuterodon. Much like other members of Deuterodon, and like some fish in related genera, D. heterostomus is a small, silvery fish with fins in some combination of red and clear. It has a defined humeral spot that can be used for identification.
Its diet was not well-known until a 1970 study that classified it as a voracious lepidophage, preying on other fish species for their scales. Most of its food is sourced from related fishes such as Psalidodon fasciatus, a cryptic species to which D. heterostomus bears a strong visual resemblance. This resemblance has been proposed to be a form of mimicry, allowing D. heterostomus to easily approach its prey.
- ^ Instituto Chico Mendes de Conservação da Biodiversidade (ICMBio) (2022). "Probolodus heterostomus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (in Portuguese). 2022: e.T187011A1821784. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2022-1.RLTS.T187011A1821784.pt. Retrieved 31 January 2024.
- ^ Bailly, Nicholas (2022). "Deuterodon heterostomus (Eigenmann, 1911)". WoRMS. World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved 22 October 2023.