Llanolebias facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Llanolebias |
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The Llanolebias stellifer is a type of small fish known as a killifish. It belongs to the family called Rivulidae. This fish is special because it is found only in one specific area of the world. This is called being endemic.
It lives in the Llanos, which is a large grassland area in Venezuela. The Llanos is part of the Orinoco river basin. This killifish likes to live in shallow, temporary water bodies, like ponds that form in forests after rain.
This fish is also an "annual killifish." This means it lives for about a year. It grows to be about 7.5 centimeters (about 3 inches) long. The Llanolebias stellifer is the only known fish in its genus (a group of very similar species). It used to be grouped with other fish in the Rachovia genus.
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What is a Killifish?
Killifish are a diverse group of small, freshwater fish. They are found all over the world, especially in tropical and subtropical regions. Many killifish are known for living in temporary pools of water. These pools can dry up during certain times of the year.
How Killifish Survive Dry Seasons
To survive when their homes dry up, many killifish have a special trick. Their eggs can survive in the mud even after the water is gone. When the rains return and the pools fill up again, the eggs hatch. This amazing ability helps them live in places where other fish cannot.
Where the Llanolebias Stellifer Lives
The Llanolebias stellifer calls the Llanos home. The Llanos is a vast tropical grassland plain. It stretches across parts of Venezuela and Colombia. This area has a wet season and a dry season.
The Orinoco Basin
The Llanos is part of the Orinoco river basin. A river basin is the land area that drains into a river and its tributaries. The Orinoco River is one of the longest rivers in South America. It creates many habitats for different animals, including the Llanolebias stellifer.
Life Cycle of an Annual Killifish
The Llanolebias stellifer is an "annual" fish. This means its entire life cycle, from egg to adult, usually happens within one year.
Reproduction and Survival
During the wet season, these fish hatch, grow, and reproduce. They lay their eggs in the mud at the bottom of the temporary ponds. When the dry season comes, the ponds shrink and eventually disappear. The adult fish die, but their eggs stay safe in the dried mud. These eggs are very tough. They can wait for months, sometimes even a year, until the next rainy season. When the rains return, the ponds fill up again, and the eggs hatch. This cycle repeats year after year.
See also
In Spanish: Llanolebias stellifer para niños
