Updated 16 June 2024 PDF version (with illustrations and additional information) Lowland Pacus Subfamily COLOSSOMATINAE Kolmann, Hughes, Hernandez, Arcila, Betancur-R, Sabaj Pérez, López-Fernández & Ortí 2021 Colossoma Eigenmann & Kennedy 1903 colos, from chólos (Gr. χόλος), gall or bile, but authors say “without horns”; sṓma (Gr. σῶμα), body, referring to lack of “procumbent predorsal spine” […]

Updated 22 Sept. 2023 PDF version (illustrated) Anodus Cuvier 1829 án– (ἄν), Greek privative, i.e., not; odoús (Gr. ὀδούς), tooth, referring to lack of jaw teeth Anodus elongatus Agassiz 1829 Latin for prolonged, referring to its slender, elongate body and/or elongate, laterally compressed head Anodus orinocensis (Steindachner 1887) –ensis, Latin suffix denoting place: Río Orinoco […]

Updated 26 April 2024 PDF version (with illustrations and additional information) Erythrinus Scopoli 1777 –inus, Latin adjectival suffix: erythrós (Gr. ἐρυθρός), red, allusion not explained nor evident; name coined by Gronow (1756), who described color as “gray, variegated with brown spots” (translation) [predates Synodus erythrinus Bloch & Schneider 1801 and therefore is not tautonymous with […]

Revised 29 April 2024 PDF version (with illustrations and additional information) Abramites Fowler 1906 -ites (Gr. -ίδες), like, referring to “superficial” resemblance to the Common Bream Abramis brama (Cypriniformes: Leuciscidae) Abramites eques (Steindachner 1878) Latin for horseman or rider, allusion not explained, probably referring to oblique saddle-like marking on sides (Steindachner used this name for […]

Revised 18 Sept. 2023 PDF version (illustrated and with additional information) Hepsetus Swainson 1838 etymology not explained, probably from the ancient Greek hepsētós (Gr. ἑψητός), a small fish boiled for human consumption (e.g., the anchovy Anchoa hepsetus); however, name is also used for toothy, pike-like piscivores, perhaps alluding to the Greek poet Archippus (late 5th-century […]

Revised 5 Sept. 2023 PDF version (illustrated) Sailfin Tetras Subfamily CRENUCHINAE Günther 1870 Crenuchus Günther 1863 crena (L.), notch; nuchus, from nucha (Medieval Latin), nape of the neck, allusion not explained not evident, perhaps referring to slight indentation on nape of nuptial males, a character not mentioned by Günther (online claims that name is derived […]

Updated 9 March 2024 PDF version (with illustrations and additional information) Alestes Müller & Troschel 1844 alestḗs (Gr. ἀλεστής), miller or grinder, presumably referring to inner row of premaxillary molariform teeth Alestes ansorgii Boulenger 1910 in honor of British explorer and collector William John Ansorge (1850–1913), who collected holotype Alestes baremoze (Joannis 1835) Arabic name […]

Updated 26 June 2024 PDF version (with illustrations) Belonophago Giltay 1929 belónē (Gr. βελόνη), needle, i.e., a Phago with an elongate upper jaw, similar to needlefishes (Belonidae, Belone) Belonophago hutsebouti Giltay 1929 in honor of Belgian Catholic missionary Joseph Hutsebaut (1886–1954), who collected holotype [note apparent misspelling, –bouti instead of –bauti] Belonophago tinanti Poll 1939 […]

Revised 9 June 2024 PDF version (with illustrations and additional information) Chrosomus Rafinesque 1820 chrṓma (Gr. χρῶμα), skin or color; somus, from sṓma (Gr. σῶμα), body, referring to vibrant coloration of C. erythrogaster Subgenus Chrosomus Chrosomus cumberlandensis (Starnes & Starnes 1978) –ensis, Latin suffix denoting place: upper Cumberland River drainage (Kentucky and Tennessee, USA), where […]

Revised 18 July 2024 PDF version (with illustrations and additional information) Agosia Girard 1856 a Native American word, chosen presumably because Girard liked the sound of it Agosia chrysogaster Girard 1856 chrysós (Gr. χρυσός), gold or golden; gastḗr (Gr. γαστήρ), belly or stomach, referring to light-yellow (“of a golden hue”) bellies of males Alburnops Girard […]