Chilodus Explained

Chilodus is a genus of extant chilodontid (characiform) headstanders from South America^{[1] [2]} They live in the Orinoco and Amazon Basins, as well as in various rivers in the Guianas. The currently described, valid species in this genus are:

• Chilodus fritillus Vari & H. Ortega, 1997
• Chilodus gracilis Isbrücker & Nijssen, 1988 (graceful headstander),^[3] or sometimes called petite headstander
• Chilodus punctatus J. P. Müller & Troschel, 1844 (spotted headstander)
• Chilodus zunevei Puyo, 1946

Two of these species, C. punctatus and C. gracilis, are common aquarium fishes.

Notes and References

1. Müller . J. . Troschel . F. H. . 1844 . Beschreibung neuer Asteriden. . Archiv für Naturgeschichte . 10 . 1 . 81–99 .
2. Isbrücker . I. J. H. . Nijssen . H. . 1988 . Review of the South American characiform fish genus Chilodus, with description of a new species, C. gracilis (Pisces, Characiformes, Chilodontidae). . Beaufortia . 38 . 3 . 47–56.
3. Babcock . L. E. . 2024 . Replacement names for two species of Orthacanthus Agassiz, 1843 (Chondrichthyes, Xenacanthiformes), and discussion of Giebelodus Whitley, 1940, replacement name for Chilodus Giebel, 1848 (Chondrichthyes, Xenacanthiformes), preoccupied by Chilodus Müller & Troschel, 1844 (Actinopterygii, Characiformes). . ZooKeys . 1188 . 219–226 . 10.3897/zookeys.1188.108571 . free . 38230382 . 10790574 .