| SOURCE FOR OCCURRENCE IN ECUADOR: Barriga (2012), Jimenez et al. (2015). |
| ORIGINAL DESCRIPTION: Steindachner, F. 1879. Beiträge zur Kenntniss der Süsswasserfische Südamerikas. Anzeiger der Akademie der Wissenschaften in Wien v. 16 (no. 15):149-152. |
| TYPE SPECIMENS: FMNH-56055. |
| TAXONOMIC STATUS: Valid (Eschmeyer and Fricke, 2016). |
| RANGE ECUADOR: Only found in Esmeraldas province in the lower reaches of the Santiago-Cayapas drainage and north to Colombia (Jimenez et al., 2015). |
| RANGE OUTSIDE OF ECUADOR: Panama (Jimenez et al., 2015) and Atrato, San Juan, Baudo and Calima rivers in Colombia (Maldonado-Ocampo et al., 2012). |
| COLLECTIONS IN ECUADOR: |
| MAXIMUM SIZE: Reported to 64mm SL, common to 45mm SL by Jimenez et. (2015). Maldonado-Ocampo et al. (2012) report a maximum TL of 120mm. |
| DISTINGUISHING FEATURES: Very easy to identify because it is the only species in the family Gasteropelecidae in western Ecuador, which is characterized by a greatly compressed body form with a large ventral keel in the anterior part of the body. |
| ECOLOGY: Found in clear to semi-clear waters in areas with sandy bottoms and decomposing plant material (Maldonado-Ocampo et al., 2012). Specialized on feeding on prey towards the water surface, especially insects. Stomach contents of specimens examined in Colombia by Maldonado-Ocampo et al. (2012) included hymenopteran, dipteran, and coleopteran insects, as well as unidentified insect remains, plant material and fish remains. |
| ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE: Not important as a food fish because of its small size but has potential as an aquarium fish (Jimenez et al., 2015). |
| CONSERVATION STATUS: Unknown, although it does not appear to be common and has a very restricted range in the northern most part of western Ecuador. |
| LINK TO FISHBASE PAGE: Click here for link |
| SPECIES PROFILE CREATED BY: Windsor Aguirre |
| SPECIES PROFILE CONTRIBUTORS: |
