Mesonauta egregius Kullander & Silfvergrip, 1991
Mesonauta egregius
photo by DATZ

Family:  Cichlidae (Cichlids), subfamily: Cichlasomatinae
Max. size:  8.2 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  benthopelagic; freshwater; pH range: 4.80000019073486; dH range: 0
Distribution:  South America: Orinocoa River basin, in the Meta and Vichada River basins.
Diagnosis:  This species is distinguished by the lower metamerie meristics than its congeners: dorsal fin count usually XIV.ll instead of XV.l0-l1, anal fin count usually VILlI which is not found in other Mesonauta species, El row scales usually 24 instead of 25 or 26, vertebrae 13+13 instead of 12+14 or 13+14. Bar 6 is split ventrally, but unlike in M. mirificus with similar pattem, there are no horizontal stripes along the sides . It is distinguished from the geographically c!ose M. insignis also by deeper body (50.7-55.6%SL vs 47.6-53.4%SL) and shorter snout (8.9-11.0% vs 1O.2-13.0%SL), and by having plain coloured instead of reticulated dorsal pigment pattern (ref. 86444).
Biology:  In shallow water among aquatic plants (Ref. 40602).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 28 October 2020 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


Source and more info: www.fishbase.org. For personal, classroom, and other internal use only. Not for publication.