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Ovalentaria/misc (Various families in series Ovalentaria) >
Polycentridae (Leaffishes)
Etymology: Polycentrus: Greek, poly = a lot of + Greek, kentron = sting (Ref. 45335).
Eponymy: Sir Robert Hermann Schomburgk (1804–1865) was a German businessman who was asked to supervise transporting Saxon sheep to Virginia, USA (1828), where he stayed. [...] (Ref. 128868), visit book page.
More on authors: Müller & Troschel.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; brackish; benthopelagic; pH range: 6.0 - 7.0; dH range: 18 - 20. Tropical; 22°C - 26°C (Ref. 13371)
South America: Trinidad (W.I.), and Atlantic coastal rivers of Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana and Brazil (state of Amapá).
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 5.5 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 50082)
Inhabits clear and turbid water, often brackish water (Ref. 11225). Feeds on worms, insects and fish (Ref. 7020).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Produces up to 600 eggs.
Britz, R. and S.O. Kullander, 2002. Polycentridae (Leaffishes). p. 603-604. In R.E. Reis, S.O. Kullander and C.J. Ferraris, Jr. (eds.) Checklist of the Freshwater Fishes of South and Central America. Porto Alegre: EDIPUCRS, Brasil. (Ref. 50082)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2025-2)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: commercial; aquarium: commercial
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