Description:
Dorsal spines (total): 1; Dorsal soft rays (total):
7; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 14 - 15. Habitat:
It is an oceanodromous species that is found between
the mouth of the Negro River in Patagonia and eastern
Brazil. Colouration: Body dark blue
dorsally, silvery white ventrally. Dorsal fin, adipose
fin, soft ray of pectoral fin and maxillary barbel
dark blue. Posterior margins of caudal and anal fins
slightly blackish. Reproduction:
They migrate in large schools to fresh water, where
they spawn in spring. Themales carry
out incubation of the eggs and leave their young in
fresh water, where they grow and develop, to later
return to the sea. Etymology: The
genus name of Genidens is tautonymous with
Pimelodus genidens (but unnecessarily renamed
G. cuvieri): genys, cheek or jaw; dens, teeth,
referring to moveable teeth on the palate. The specific
name of barbus: latinisation of barbue, vernacular
among French sailors, probably referring to its six
barbels (unusual for a marine fish).
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