Steindachnerina

Steindachnerina is a genus with 24 species in this atlas, catalogued in the Piranhas & Pacus section, recorded from Brazil, Colombia, Argentina and 11 more countries. Adult sizes run from 3 in to 9 in. Every species below links to a full researched profile.

Species in atlas
24
Adult sizes
3–9 in
IUCN assessed
24 of 24
Recorded from
14 countries

About the genus

Steindachnerina is a genus of small, silvery characiform fishes in the detritivore family Curimatidae, widespread across lowland South America — the atlas's records span Brazil, Colombia, Argentina, Paraguay, Peru, Venezuela, Uruguay, and Bolivia. Like other curimatids, species in this genus have a small, subterminal, downturned mouth adapted for grazing fine organic detritus and algae from the substrate rather than hunting prey or browsing plants, paired with a slender, laterally compressed, largely unpatterned silver body built for schooling in open water. The atlas covers 24 species, modest in size at roughly 3–9 in as adults.

Steindachnerina has essentially no presence in the aquarium hobby — its plain silvery coloring and detritivorous habits give it little ornamental appeal next to showier characins, so the genus is mostly of local ecological and scientific interest, occasionally turning up as incidental bycatch in South American subsistence and artisanal fisheries. The conservation picture is comparatively reassuring for a genus this widespread: most assessed species are rated Least Concern, with only a couple Near Threatened, though a large share of the genus remains formally unevaluated across its broad range.

IUCN Red List: Near Threatened · 2 Least Concern · 13 Data Deficient · 1 Not Evaluated · 8

The 24 species

Every Steindachnerina recorded in this atlas. Each card links to a full researched profile — distribution, water parameters, and aquarium care, cited to primary sources.

(Steindachner, 1911)

4 in SL · LC

(Gill, 1858)

Stout sardine

3.5 in SL · LC

(Eigenmann, 1912)

4.5 in SL · NT

(Steindachner, 1876)

Boquiche, Branquinha, Saburu

7 in SL · NE

(Pearson, 1924)

5 in SL · LC

(Braga & Azpelicueta, 1987)

7.5 in TL · LC

(Eigenmann & Eigenmann, 1889)

9 in TL · LC

(Holmberg, 1891)

5 in SL · LC

Pavanelli & Britski, 1999

NT

(Günther, 1868)

6.5 in SL · NE

(Steindachner, 1875)

6 in TL · LC

(Vari & Géry, 1985)

4 in SL · NE

Vari & Williams Vari, 1989

3 in SL · LC

(Eigenmann & Eigenmann, 1889)

4.5 in SL · LC

(Boulenger, 1887)

4 in SL · LC

(Fernández-Yépez, 1948)

Papa-terra

7.5 in TL · LC

(Günther, 1868)

6 in TL · NE

Lucinda & Vari, 2009

6 in SL · NE

(Miranda Ribeiro, 1937)

4.5 in TL · LC

Vari & Williams Vari, 1989

3.5 in SL · NE

Vari, 1991

6.5 in TL · LC

Vari & Williams Vari, 1989

5 in SL · NE

Netto-Ferreira & Vari, 2011

3.5 in SL · DD

Géry, Planquette & Le Bail, 1991

3.5 in SL · NE

Explore further

How to cite

Aquarist Atlas (2026). Genus Steindachnerina. Aquarist Atlas. https://www.aquaristatlas.com/steindachnerina/

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