# Carnegiella strigata The Carnegiella strigata, also known as the striped hatchetfish, is a small fish that loves to swim near the surface of the water. Its shiny body helps it blend in with the light, making it look like a little silver arrow in the water! - **Category:** [Fish](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/fish) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Freshwater rivers and streams - **Also known as:** Striped Hatchetfish ![Carnegiella strigata](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Bijlzalm.jpg&width=800) Photo: Luukneele, Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bijlzalm.jpg) ## Appearance The Carnegiella strigata has a distinct hatchet-shaped body, flattened on the sides, with large pectoral fins. Its silvery body is adorned with dark, wavy stripes that resemble marble patterns. The small dorsal fin is located far back, near the tail, giving it a unique profile. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Actinopterygii - **Order:** Characiformes - **Family:** Gasteropelecidae - **Genus:** Carnegiella ## Interesting facts - Imagine a fish that spends most of its life looking up at the sky! - Their super-flat bottom helps them hide perfectly from predators below! - These tiny fish can jump so fast, they almost disappear in a blink! - They can 'skip' on the water's surface, almost like tiny flying saucers! ## Special abilities - **Flight Fin Power:** Carnegiella strigata can leap out of the water and glide short distances using their powerful pectoral fins because this helps them escape predators. - **Surface Skimmer:** Carnegiella strigata has an upturned mouth that helps them easily snatch small insects from the water's surface. - **Hatchet Hydrodynamics:** Carnegiella strigata has a unique keel-shaped chest that helps them stay perfectly balanced and maneuver swiftly at the water's surface. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 3-4 cm - **Weight:** 0.0005-0.001 kg - **Lifespan:** 2-3 years - **Swim Speed:** 8 km/h - **Maximum Depth:** 0.5 m - **Water Type:** Freshwater ## Diet & Feeding They mostly eat tiny insects that fall onto the water, plus other small critters. - **Primary Foods:** Terrestrial insects, Aquatic insect larvae, Small crustaceans, Zooplankton - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Spectacled Caiman](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spectacled-caiman) (*Caiman crocodilus*) — A common predator in their Amazonian habitat. - **Eaten by:** Golden Trahira (*Hoplerythrinus unitaeniatus*) — Larger fish that preys on smaller surface dwellers. - **Hunts:** [Fruit Fly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/fruit-fly) (*Drosophila melanogaster*) — Catches small flying insects that fall onto the water's surface. ## Traits - [Striped](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/striped): Marked with parallel bands or lines of color. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Omnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/omnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet includes both plant and animal matter. - [Gliding](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/gliding): Gliding animals move through the air by launching themselves and maintaining flight with specialized body structures, without flapping wings. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Freshwater](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/freshwater): Freshwater habitats include non-saline aquatic environments such as rivers, lakes, ponds, and wetlands, vital for numerous species. - [Miniature](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/miniature): Pertaining to species that are significantly smaller than typical or average for their kind. - [Aquatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aquatic): Aquatic habitats encompass environments where organisms live predominantly in water, including oceans, rivers, lakes, and wetlands. ## Collections - [Fish](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/fish) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always be gentle around fish tanks and never put your hands in without asking an adult. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Carnegiella strigata? 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 Carnegiella strigata? 3-4 cm ### How much does Carnegiella strigata weigh? 0.0005-0.001 kg ### How long does Carnegiella strigata live? 2-3 years ### What does Carnegiella strigata eat? They mostly eat tiny insects that fall onto the water, plus other small critters. ### How fast can Carnegiella strigata swim? 8 km/h ### Where is Carnegiella strigata usually found? Freshwater rivers and streams ### How does Carnegiella strigata hunt? Foraging ## More Fish - [Rainbow Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/rainbow-trout) (*Oncorhynchus mykiss*) - [Brown Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-trout) (*Salmo trutta*) - [Brook Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brook-trout) (*Salvelinus fontinalis*) - [Lake Trout](https://www.snappit.app/explore/lake-trout) (*Salvelinus namaycush*) --- Source: [Carnegiella strigata: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/carnegiella-strigata)