Pike characin

For the family of fishes commonly known as the Pike-characins, see Ctenoluciidae.

The pike characin^[3] (Acestrorhynchus microlepis) is a species of fish in the family Acestrorhynchidae.^[4] It was described by Sir William Jardine, 7th Baronet in 1841, originally under the genus Hydrocyon.^[2] It inhabits the Orinoco and Amazon Rivers in the regions of Suriname, Guyana, and French Guiana, at a pH range of 5.5-6.5. It reaches a maximum total length of 37 cm (15 in), and a maximum weight of 230 g (8.1 oz).^[4]

Pike characin
Acestrorhynchus microlepis
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Characiformes
Family:	Acestrorhynchidae
Genus:	Acestrorhynchus
Species:	A. microlepis
Binomial name
Acestrorhynchus microlepis (Jardine, 1841)
Synonyms[2]
Acestrorhynchus apurensis Toledo-Piza & Menezes, 1996 Acestrorhynchus cachorro Fowler, 1940 Acestrorhynchus guianensis Menezes, 1969 Acestorhynchus microlepis (Jardine, 1841) Hydrocyon microlepis Jardine, 1841

The pike characin feeds on bony fish.^[5] It is marketed for the aquarium hobby.^[4]