Black-winged hatchetfish facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Black-winged hatchetfish |
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The black-winged hatchetfish (Carnegiella marthae) is a small, unique ray-finned fish. It lives in freshwater in South America.
A scientist named George Myers gave this fish its name. He named it after his first wife, Martha.
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What Does It Look Like?
The black-winged hatchetfish has a very special body shape. It looks like a hatchet or an axe blade! Its body is rounded on top and very deep on the bottom. This deep shape is called a convex body.
Its anal fin (the fin on its underside near the tail) is set back quite a bit. The fish also has large, wing-like pectoral fins. These are the fins on its sides, behind its gills. They can reach almost half the length of its body!
Most of the time, these fish are silver with black spots and stripes. But if the light hits them differently, their colors can change. They often have a golden stripe that goes from their gill cover all the way to their tail. Black-winged hatchetfish are quite small, growing up to about 2.8 cm (1.1 in) long.
Where Do They Live?
Black-winged hatchetfish live in the calm waters of streams and pools. You can find them in the Orinoco and Negro river regions in South America.
What Do They Eat?
These fish are omnivorous, which means they eat both plants and animals. In the wild, they mostly eat insects that land on the water's surface. They can also eat small crustaceans.
If you keep them in an aquarium, they can eat special flake foods or live foods.
Keeping Them in an Aquarium
Black-winged hatchetfish are peaceful fish. They get along well with many other types of tropical fish, especially smaller ones like catfish and tetras.
These fish love to stay near the top of the aquarium. It's a good idea to add small floating plants to their tank. This makes them feel safe and gives them places to hide.
One very important thing to remember: hatchetfish are known for jumping! In the wild, they jump out of the water to catch insects. So, if you have them in an aquarium, make sure the lid is completely closed. Cover every little hole at the top of the tank to stop them from jumping out.
See also
In Spanish: Carnegiella marthae para niños
- Freshwater hatchetfish
