Moenkhausia cosmops - Aqualog

Aqualognews NUMBER 96 2
T
he genus Moenkhausia contains
characins that have traditionally been
among the most popular of aquarium
fishes. There can be hardly a pet shop in
the world that doesn’t stock at the very
least the Red-Eye Tetra (M. sanctaefilomenae)
as a representative of its genus.
A first import!
Aquarium Glaser have now imported small
numbers of a very unusual tetra,
Moenkhausia cosmops, from Brazil for the
first time.This species was first scientifically
described in 2007. To date it is known only
from the upper reaches of the Rio
Paraguay and Rio Tapajos basins in the
state of Mato Grosso: Rio Juba, Rio Juruena,
Rio Papagaio,and their tributaries.
The closest relations of the new species
Its nearest relatives are thought to be the
Glass Tetra, Moenkhausia oligolepis,and the
Red-Eye Tetra, M. sanctaefilomenae, both
TETRAS
A new star in the characin sky -
Moenkhausia cosmops
by Wolfgang Löll
Characins are an immensely varied
group of fishes. They include the
tiny,prettily-colored fellows such as
the neon tetras, much-dreaded
predators such as the piranhas,and
every imaginable form in between.
The “moustache”of the species is very striking.
Moenkhausia cosmops All Photos: Frank Schäfer
well-known in the aquarium hobby. The
other similar species - M. cotinho, M.
diktyota, M. forestii,and M. pyrophthalma –
have to date been unimportant in the
hobby. All these species share the
common features of a red iris and a caudalpeduncle
spot. M. cosmops can be
distinguished at first glance from the
species named above by virtue of its bluegreen
eyes and the red stripe above the
mouth.
No other species looks the same
The unique coloration of this species is
slightly reminiscent on the one hand of
the gorgeous emperor tetras
(Nematobrycon), and on the other of the
Lipstick Barb (Barbus erythromycter) from
Asia. But there is no phylogenetic
relationship with the species named.
Uncomplicated maintenance
A readily recognizable characteristic:the blue eyes.
The maximum length of Moenkhausia
cosmops is around 6 cm. These fishes are
somewhat timid initially.To date they have
proved fairly hardy and peaceful. Like the
majority of tetras they are
unproblematical when it comes to
feeding. Investigation of stomach contents
in the wild revealed insects (mainly ants),