Semaprochilodus brama

Semaprochilodus brama is a species of freshwater ray-finned fish belonging to the family Prochilodontidae, the bocachicos or flannel-mouth characiformes. This species is restricted to Brazil.

Semaprochilodus brama
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Characiformes
Family:	Prochilodontidae
Genus:	Semaprochilodus
Species:	S. brama
Binomial name
Semaprochilodus brama (Valenciennes, 1850)[2]
Synonyms[2]
Prochilodus brama Valenciennes, 1850 Semaprochilodus squamilentus Fowler, 1941

Taxonomy

Semaprochilodus brama was first formally described as Prochilodus brama in 1850 by the French zoologist Achille Valenciennes with its type locality given as the Rio Tocantins at São João das Duas Barras in Pará, Brazil. In 1941 Henry Weed Fowler described a new species which he called Semaprochilodus squamilentus from the Rio Parnahyba, Therezina, Piauhy in Brazil.^[2] When he described this species Fowler proposed a new genus Semaprochilodus and he designated S. squalimentus as its type species.^[3] S. squamilentus is now considered to be a synonym of Prochilodus brama.^[2] The genus Semaprochilodus is classified within the family Prochilodontidae, the bocachicos or flannel-mouth characiformes, within the suborder Characoidei of the order Characiformes.^[4]

Etymology

Semaprochilodus brama is the senior synonym of Semaprochilodus squamilentus, the type species of the genus Semaprochilodus. The name of this genus combines the Greek sêma, which means "sign", as in semaphore with the genus name Prochilodus, an allusion to the black banded caudal fin which resembles a flag. The specific name, brama, is deribed from abramis, a Greek word for bream, as used in the scientific binomial of the common bream (Abramis brama).^[5]

Description

Semaprochilodus brama has a maximum total length of 54 cm (21 in) and a maximum weight of 2.6 kg (5.7 lb).^[6]

Distribution and habitat

Semaprochilodus brama is endemic to Brazil where it occurs in the drainage basins of the Tocantins and Xingu in the states of Goiás, Mato Grosso, Pará and Tocantins. This species found in a variety of environments, including streams, lakes, and riverbanks.^[1]