Iguanodectes is a genus of freshwater ray-finned fish belonging to the family Iguanodectidae. The fishes in this genus are found in tropical South America. They are all small tetras, none longer than 5 inches, and often have attractive silvery or striped scales, which makes them a target for the ornamental fish industry. Alongside the genus Piabucus, it has been treated as belonging to the subfamily Iguanodectinae, which in turn is in the family Iguanodectidae, although this is not universally recognised.
GENUS
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Iguanodectes is a genus of freshwater ray-finned fish belonging to the family Iguanodectidae. The fishes in this genus are found in tropical South America. They are all small tetras, none longer than 5 inches, and often have attractive silvery or striped scales, which makes them a target for the ornamental fish industry. Alongside the genus Piabucus, it has been treated as belonging to the subfamily Iguanodectinae, which in turn is in the family Iguanodectidae, although this is not universally recognised.
== Description == Members of Iguanodectes are relatively slender, shaped somewhat like minnows; ichthyologists Carl H. Eigenmann and James Erwin Böhlke both compared them to smelt in general body composition. The largest (Iguanodectes variatus) reaches 10.3 cm (4.1 in) at a maximum in SL, and the smallest (Iguanodectes gracilis) 4.6 cm (1.6 in). This size makes them relatively easy to keep in captivity, and so several species of Iguanodectes - as with the whole subfamily Iguanodectinae - are seen in aquariums from time to time, with the potential to be a bigger target. However, they are not as common as many other species of tetra. I. geisleri is sold under the name "red line lizard tetra", and I. spilurus has the name "green line lizard tetra". Because I. adujai looks quite similar to I. geisleri, the two species are sometimes found in the same stock.
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