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Ameca splendens

The Ameca splendens, also known as the Butterfly Goodeid, is a small fish that has beautiful colors and patterns. They live in freshwater and are known for their friendly nature and playful behavior.

Habitat: Freshwater rivers and lakes

Appearance

The Ameca splendens is a sleek, small mammal, typically sporting a glossy reddish-brown coat with a faint iridescent sheen. It has large, dark eyes, prominent ears, and a distinctive white patch on its chest, making it visually unique among forest creatures.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumChordataClassActinopterygiiOrderCyprinodontiformesFamilyGoodeidaeGenusAmeca

Photo: Marie France JanelleCC BY-SA 2.5 · Wikimedia CommonsView original ↗

Ameca splendens

Interesting facts

An Ameca splendens can rotate its head almost 180 degrees to look for danger!

Baby Ameca splendens are born blind and hairless, relying completely on their mother for care.

Despite their small size, Ameca splendens are excellent climbers, often found scurrying up trees!

They communicate with each other using a series of high-pitched squeaks and chirps!

Special abilities

Ameca splendens can detect hidden food and approaching predators with an incredibly keen sense of smell, helping them survive in dense environments.

Ameca splendens can rapidly dig intricate burrows using strong forelimbs, which provides them safe, quick shelter from danger and weather.

Ameca splendens has a subtly shimmering coat that helps them blend perfectly into dappled forest light, making them hard to spot.

Measurements & details

Length: 20-35 cm
Weight: 0.5-2 kg
Lifespan: 3-8 years
Speed: 28 km/h
Litter Size: 3-7
Gestation: 25-40 days

Diet & Feeding

An omnivore, this tiny mammal enjoys a varied diet of plants, insects, and fruits.

Primary Foods

Berries
Insects
Seeds
Mushrooms
Small invertebrates

Foraging Method

Foraging

Ecological connections

Eaten by

coyote

Canis latrans

A common predator in their forest habitat.

Depends on

weeping fig

Ficus benjamina

Consumes its fruits and uses its branches for shelter.

Eats

leafcutter ant

Atta cephalotes

Forages for these ants and their nutritious larvae.

Eaten by

great horned owl

Bubo virginianus

A nocturnal predator that hunts small mammals.

Traits

Social

Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring.

Omnivorous

This trait identifies organisms whose diet includes both plant and animal matter.

Colorful

Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.

Diurnal

Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night.

Freshwater

Freshwater habitats include non-saline aquatic environments such as rivers, lakes, ponds, and wetlands, vital for numerous species.

Also known as

No aliases listed yet.

Collections

Fish

Safety

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Always be careful around water and ask an adult before going swimming.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to identify Ameca splendens?

Look at body shape, where the fins sit and their outline, mouth position, stripes and spots. Young fish and breeding adults can wear different patterns, and aquarium color varieties can look nothing like wild fish. Fish Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

How long is Ameca splendens?

20-35 cm

How much does Ameca splendens weigh?

0.5-2 kg

How long does Ameca splendens live?

3-8 years

How fast can Ameca splendens move?

28 km/h

What does Ameca splendens eat?

An omnivore, this tiny mammal enjoys a varied diet of plants, insects, and fruits.

Where is Ameca splendens usually found?

Freshwater rivers and lakes