Silver hatchetfish, Spotfin hatchetfish
Thoracocharax stellatus is commonly called ‘freshwater hatchet fish’ due to the shape of its body, with an impressive keel, which resembles the shape of a hatchet head. Their body has evolved in such a way thanks to the possession of an enlarged and strongly muscled chest belt, which resembles the shape of an war ax. This species is superficially similar to its only congener Thoracocharax securis, but can immediately be identified by the presence of a prominent dark spot in the dorsal-fin.
Distribution: Paraná, Amazon, and Orinoco River basins; widespread and in most South American countries: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Uruguay, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru and Venezuela.
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