| SOURCE FOR OCCURRENCE IN ECUADOR: This species is common along the Pacific slope of Ecuador. There are many references for its occurrence in the area (e.g., Eigenmann, 1922; Eigenmann, 1929; Ovchynnyk, 1971; Glodek, 1978; Barriga, 1994; Laaz & Torres, 2010). |
| ORIGINAL DESCRIPTION: Regan, C.T. 1908. A collection of freshwater fishes made by Mr. C. F. Underwood in Costa Rica. Annals and Magazine of Natural History (Series 8) 2(no. 11):455-464. |
| TYPE SPECIMENS: |
| TAXONOMIC STATUS: The species is valid (Eschmeyer and Fricke, 2011). However, Roman-Valencia et al. (2011) indicate that B. scleroparius is restricted to Panama and Costa Rica. The records for Ecuador may thus be based on identification errors. |
| RANGE ECUADOR: Pacific slope (Eigenmann, 1922); Esmeraldas and Guayas basins of western Ecuador (Glodek, 1978). Note that as described above, Roman-Valencia et al. (2011) indicate that B. scleroparius identifications in the region may be incorrect. |
| RANGE OUTSIDE OF ECUADOR: Atlantic slope of Costa Rica (Eigenmann, 1922); Central America and Colombia (Gery, 1977); Panama (Eschmeyer, 2011). Roman-Valencia et al. (2011) list this species for Panama and Costa Rica. |
| COLLECTIONS IN ECUADOR: |
| MAXIMUM SIZE: 11 cm total length (Fishbase, 2012). |
| DISTINGUISHING FEATURES: Bryconamericus scleroparius differs from other characids in the region by the following combinations of characters: caudal peduncle deep, its depth equal to or greater than length of snout plus eye, 28-29 anal fin rays; 37-39 lateral line scales, head length 3.06 times in standard length (Glodek, 1978).
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| ECOLOGY: Bryconamericus scleroparius known in Ecuador as the “sardina” is a small, ecologically important omnivorous characid (Barriga, 1994). |
| ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE: This species is not exploited as a food fish because of its small size. |
| CONSERVATION STATUS: NA, although this species is not exploited directly as a food fish. |
| LINK TO FISHBASE PAGE: Click here for link |
| SPECIES PROFILE CREATED BY: Enrique Laaz |
| SPECIES PROFILE CONTRIBUTORS: Windsor Aguirre |
