Aequidens mauesanus

Introduction

Aequidens mauesanus is a medium sized fish of about 5.5 " found in Brazil, South America.

Taxonomy

Aequidens mauesanus was first described by Kullander in 1997 , and has been placed in Genus Aequidens and subfamily Cichlasomatinae.
The Genus Name "Aequidens" is derived from Latin words, equips+equal+dens(teeth), which roughly translates to "Fish with equal teeth".
The species name refers to location Maués, and refers to the type locality, located in the drainage of the river Maués.

Distribution & Habitat

Aequidens mauesanus is found in South america,Brazil, Amazon River basin, in the Maués and Arapiuns rivers.
A.mauesanus is known only from the lower river Maués, a tributary to the paraná Urariá, a channel of the river Amazon; and from the river Arapiuns, a tributary of the lower river Tapajós.
The type locality is a small stream of the left bank of the river Maraú at its mouth into the river Maués.
It is benthopelagic or swims above river bed at depths of about 1-3 m in black water rivers.

Diet

It is a omnivore in nature, and eats small insects, fish, algae etc.

Description

Aequidens mauesanus is a medium sized fish having a Standard Length 5.5 ". It is slender in appearance and can be easily distinguished uniquely by its color pattern.
While the fish is juvenile, the lateral band is continuous, but as the fish reaches adulthood the band is replaced by blackish blotches in posterior part.
There is a small mid lateral spot and above it there is a prominent dark dorsal blotch which is separated from the mid lateral spot by wide light inter spaces.
There is only one other Aequidens species with a dorsal blotch and that is A. tubicen, however this blotch is found more towards dorsal side of the fish, a much wider light blotch anterior to the caudal spot, a dark blotch in the preopercular corner instead of a cheek spot.
A.mauesanus has 25-26 E1 scales and 27-28 vertebra instead of more common 25-26 vertebra.
It is known to live for 8-10 years.

Keeping in Aquarium

It is found in black water rivers with a ph of 4-5 and dh range 3-9.