Pyrrhulina laeta

Pyrrhulina laeta
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Characiformes
Family:	Lebiasinidae
Genus:	Pyrrhulina
Species:	P. laeta
Binomial name
Pyrrhulina laeta (Cope, 1872)
Synonyms [1]
Holotaxis laetus Cope, 1872

Pyrrhulina laeta, known as the half-banded pyrrhulina or half-lined pyrrhulina, is a fish found near Pebas, Peru, and in tributaries of the Ampiyacu River.^[1] It is frequently confused with other species.^[1]

The ocellated dorsal fin is the most attractive attribute. The back is pale olive, becoming silvery toward the belly. A fine, black line runs from the snout, across the eye to the end of the gill cover, then thickens to a wide band along the body, which suggests its common name, the half-banded pyrrulina. Other fins show blushes of red.^[2]

A mature male has a more elongated upper caudal fin lobe than the mature female.^[2] No record exists of breeding this species in captivity, but the feat is believed possible. The species is not attractive enough to warrant a thorough and intensive effort at breeding, yet with the great contrast of breeding habits in this family it might be interesting to try to induce them to spawn in captivity.^[2]