Ifati penguin tetra
Thayeria ifati
5 cm
Adult size
80 L
Minimum volume
10
Minimum group
4 years
Lifespan
Water parameters
Understand these values- Genus
- Thayeria
- Diet
- carnivore
- Social life
- shoal
In the wild
Overview
Described in 1959 by Jacques Géry, Thayeria ifati is one of the “penguin” tetras: a black band runs along the flank and then dips into the lower lobe of the tail fin, and the fish swims with its body tilted, head up, like other Thayeria.
Records from Brazil and Suriname turned out to be misidentifications. According to the 2024 classification, the genus now belongs to the family Acestrorhamphidae.
- Scientific name
- Thayeria ifati Géry, 1959
- Classification
- Characiformes › Acestrorhamphidae
- IUCN Red List
- Least concern (LC)
Natural habitat
Endemic to French Guiana: Maroni and Approuague basins
Observations (GBIF) and localities Native countries Rivers and lakes
Endemic to French Guiana, it is known from the Maroni and Approuague basins. It has been collected in varied habitats: rivers, streams, creeks, pools and small lakes.
The bottom is sometimes rich in organic matter, sometimes sandy and rocky, but the species always seeks calm areas: the slow water of creeks and the backwater zones of the main rivers.
Behaviour
Peaceful and gregarious, it lives in a group and feeds on small insects, worms and zooplankton. It is kept in a shoal of at least 6, ideally 10: in sufficient numbers, small squabbles stay within the group and it does not nip other fish's fins.
It copes poorly with very boisterous or much larger companions. No breeding in captivity has been documented to date.
Sources:FishBase Seriously Fish GBIF · Base map: Natural Earth