Tiger Fish
Hoplias microlepis (Günther, 1864)
Also calledDientón (spa) · Guanchiche (spa) · trahir malošupinatý (ces)
Hoplias microlepis, the smallscale wolffish, is a species of freshwater ray-finned fish belonging to the family Erythrinidae, the trahiras. This species is found in northwestern South America and in southern Central America.
Descriptions from checklists and floras indexed by GBIF
discussion
References: Bussing (1966: 218; brief description and information on distribution), Bussing (1987: 93; 1998: 123; brief description, including illustrations and an identification key, information on distribution, with a map, and ecology) and Mattox et al. (2014: 344; detailed description, including illustrations, information on distribution, with a map, and ecology).
New records and range extensions to the Costa Rican freshwater fish fauna, with an updated checklist
distribution
Distribution: Global: Central and northwestern South America: from southern Costa Rica to Ecuador, Atlantic and Pacific drainages; Costa Rica: Co (Pacific), 20 – 40 m. a. s. l., Pri, Pot.
New records and range extensions to the Costa Rican freshwater fish fauna, with an updated checklist
description
Description. Morphometric data presented in Table 1. Body cylindrical, deeper than wide. Greatest body depth at vertical through fifth or sixth scale anterior to dorsal-fin origin in specimens smaller than 61.4 mm SL, closer to dorsal-fin origin in larger specimens. Anterior profile of head angular in lateral view. Overall dorsal profile of head straight, slightly convex anteriorly towards snout. Dorsal margin of orbit located at horizontal through dorsal profile of head in specimens smaller than 45.3 mm SL, but not reaching dorsal profile of head in larger specimens (ca. 61.4 mm SL). Dorsal profile of trunk slightly convex from vertical through first series of scales of body to dorsal-fin origin; straight and posteroventrally inclined along dorsal-fin base; straight and less inclined to slightly concave from vertical through base of last dorsal-fin ray to origin of anteriormost dorsal procurrent caudal-fin ray. Ventral profile of lower jaw distinctly angular in region of mandibular symphysis, straight to slightly inclined from vertical through anterior nostril to posterior margin of lower jaw. Medial margins of contralateral dentaries abruptly converging anteriorly towards symphys
Taxonomic study of Hoplias microlepis (Günther, 1864), a trans-Andean species of trahiras (Ostariophysi: Characiformes: Erythrinidae)
description
Paralectotypes. Ecuador. BMNH. 1860.6.16.128, 1, 276.6 mm SL, West Ecuador, collector Fraser; BMNH. 1860.6.16.154 - 155, 3, 96.6 - 118.5 mm SL, West Ecuador, collector Fraser; Panama. Panama Province. Chagres basin: BMNH 1864.1.26. 222, 1, 222.8 mm SL, same information as lectotype; BMNH 1864.1. 26.309, 1, 175.6 mm SL, same locality as lectotype, collected by Messrs. Dow & Salvins (Fig. 2). [all designated herein].
Taxonomic study of Hoplias microlepis (Günther, 1864), a trans-Andean species of trahiras (Ostariophysi: Characiformes: Erythrinidae)
From Wikipedia (CC BY-SA), quoted section by section
Description
Hoplias microlepis as a member of the H. malabaricus group, differs from species in the H. macropthalmus and H. lacerdae groups by having dentary bones which abruptly converge towards the symphysis of the mandibles and by having tooth plates on tongue. The other species groups have dentary bones which are parallel and only gently converge as they approach the symphysis of the mandibles and do not have tooth plates on tongue. It can be told apart from the other members of the H. malabaricus species group by having a count of between 22 and 24 scales around the caudal peduncle while the other species in the group have between 18 and 20, typically 20. The body has an elongated shape with a maximum standard length of 36 cm (14 in).
Range & habitat
Hoplias microlepis is found in the Pacific slope drainages of southern Central America and northwestern South America. It occurs from the Coto Brus River in Costa Rica south to the Tumbes River in Ecuador and Peru, although its presence in Colmbia is uncertain and it may be being misidentified for H. malabaricus in that country. There are records from the Atlantic slope of Panama which may represent migration along the Panama Canal. It is found in freshwater occurring in rivers and impoundments.
In human culture
Hoplias microlepis is a species within the genus Hoplias, a word derived from the Greek hoplon, which means "shield" or "armour", an allusion to the armour created by the enlarged cranial bones and large teeth of these fishes. The specific name, microlepis, means "small scaled", a reference to smaller scales arranged in longitudinal series along back of this fish compared with those on Macrodon trahira and H. intermedius.
Where it has been recorded
Recorded sightings
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geo-referenced records in GBIF, from museums, herbaria and field observers.
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In the stacks
Searching the stacks…
Every page naming Hoplias microlepis in the Biodiversity Heritage Library →
From the GBIF Backbone Taxonomy and occurrence records (GBIF.org), with Wikipedia and the Source Library. GBIF species 2352250.