Flame tetra

The flame tetra (Hyphessobrycon flammeus), also known as the red tetra or Rio tetra, is a species of freshwater ray-finned fish in the family Acestrorhamphidae, the American tetras. This fish was first introduced as an aquarium fish in 1920 by C. Bruening (of Hamburg), and was not formally described until 1924, by the American ichthyologist George S. Myers. Today, it is common in the aquarium trade and large numbers are bred in captivity, but the remaining wild population in Southeast Brazil is highly threatened. The flame tetra reaches about 2.5 cm (1 in) in standard length. The rear half of the body is flame red while the area in front of the dorsal fin is silver, crossed by two dark vertical bars. All fins are red, except for the colorless pectoral fins. The tips of the anal and pelvic fins are black in males; in females, this feature is absent. The flame tetra is native to Southeast Brazil, where it occurs in coastal parts of Rio de Janeiro (Guanabara bay region, and Paraíba do Sul and Guandu River basins) and São Paulo (upper Tietê River basin). It lives in rivers and streams, generally preferring shallow (less than 0.5 m (1.6 ft) deep), slow-flowing sections with vegetation and a water temperature between 22–28 °C (72–82 °F). The flame tetra is a peaceful schooling fish and an omnivore.