Pterophyllum leopoldi, also referred to as the teardrop angelfish, Leopold's angelfish[1] dwarf angelfish, or roman-nosed angelfish,[2] is an angelfish species native to the Amazon River (between Manacapuru and Santarém), Essequibo River and Rupununi River.[3]
Pterophyllum leopoldi | |
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Actinopterygii |
Order: | Cichliformes |
Family: | Cichlidae |
Genus: | Pterophyllum |
Species: | P. leopoldi
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Binomial name | |
Pterophyllum leopoldi (J. P. Gosse, 1963)
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Synonyms | |
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It is distinguished from other members of the genus Pterophyllum by the absence of a pre-dorsal notch, and by the presence of a black blotch at the dorsal insertion on the 4th vertical bar.[1]
The species is frequently misidentified as P. dumerilii when it is imported in the aquarium trade.[4] P. leopoldi is the smallest of the angelfish species, reaching a length of 10 centimetres (3.9 in) SL and a height of 15 centimetres (5.9 in)SL.[3]
The specific name honours King Leopold III of Belgium, who sponsored the expedition to the Amazon that collected the type of this species.[5]