Tuesday 30 October 2012

Leaffish

Leaffish

Leaffishes are small freshwater fishes of the Polycentridae family, from South America.
They usually have large heads, cryptic colors and very large protractile mouths. Those features, along with their peculiar movements help them to catch fairly large prey for the size of their bodies, including small fish, aquatic insects and other invertebrates. Their odd leaf-like appearance make them interesting fishes for aquarium hobbyists. That is likely because of their unique lifestyle, hanging around in the upper story of the tank imitating the leaves that commonly fall in temperate rivers were it typically lives. They are extremely agile hunters, capable of consuming prey within a quarter of a second. Asian leaffishes are small freshwater fishes of the Nandidae family, from Southern Asia. There are only four genera in this group. These fish usually have small heads, coloration that appears to have evolved to resemble leaves and very large protractile mouths. Those features, along with their peculiar movements (seemingly intended to resemble a leaf innocently moving through the water) help them to catch fairly large prey compared to their body size, including small fish, aquatic insects and other invertebrates. They tend to stay in one place and wait for prey--they are "lie-in-wait-predators." Their odd leaf-like appearance and unusual behavior make them interesting to aquarium hobbyists.

Leaffish

Leaffish

Leaffish

Leaffish

Leaffish

Leaffish

Leaffish

Leaffish

Leaffish


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