Nandidae

Nandidae
Asian Leaffish
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Perciformes
Family: Nandidae
Genera

Afronandus
Nandus
Polycentropsis
Pristolepis

Asian leaffishes are small freshwater fishes of the Nandidae family, from Southern Asia. There are only four genera in this group.

These fish usually have small heads, coloration that appears to have evolved to resemble leaves and very large protractile mouths. Those features, along with their peculiar movements (seemingly intended to resemble a leaf innocently moving through the water) help them to catch fairly large prey compared to their body size, including small fish, aquatic insects and other invertebrates. They tend to stay in one place and wait for prey--they are "lie-in-wait-predators."

Their odd leaf-like appearance and unusual behavior make them interesting to aquarium hobbyists.

See also

External links


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