Iguanodectes spilurus (Günther, 1864)
Accepted species in Catalogue of Life’s 11 September 2026 base release. This preserves the source classification and available supporting data; it is not a completed species monograph.
Open encyclopedia reference
Iguanodectes spilurus, the green-line lizard tetra, sometimes referred to in retail stores as the slender tetra, is a small characiform fish from the rivers of South America. It is not a well-studied species, but research is available, including data from hobbyists who keep it as an ornamental fish. It has a distinct lateral stripe of reflective-green scales, and lacks any red markings therein; red is common in congeners' lateral stripes (and is thus a differentiating feature).
For a time, researchers had uncertainties regarding the taxonomic status of I. spilurus. It was originally named as a member of sister genus Piabucus, and then was described with the name I. tenuis. However, its modern placement as a member of Iguanodectes with specific name spilurus is generally accepted by the scientific community.
Wikipedia contributors, Iguanodectes spilurus; see linked history · CC BY-SA 4.0 . Plain-text lead excerpt, at most 180 words; no infobox or later sections Retrieved 2026-10-05T22:54:13.835268+00:00. This reference remains separate from the taxonomic record.
Identity & source status
- Scientific name
- Iguanodectes spilurus (Günther, 1864)
- Name authority
- (Günther, 1864)
- Rank
- species
- Accepted status
- accepted
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Teleostei
- Order
- Characiformes
- Family
- Iguanodectidae
- Genus
- Iguanodectes
- Extinction status
- Not supplied by this source
Source habitat flags: Marine: no · Freshwater: yes · Terrestrial: no. These do not form a complete habitat description.
Classification family tree
Nested taxonomic groups from the source. This is not a direct-ancestor chain, a dated evolutionary tree or a phylogenetic reconstruction.
- domainEukaryota (Chatton, 1925) Whittaker & Margulis, 1978
- kingdomAnimalia
- phylumChordata
- subphylumVertebrata
- infraphylumGnathostomata
- parvphylumOsteichthyes
- gigaclassActinopterygii
- superclassActinopteri
- classTeleostei
- orderCharaciformes
- suborderCharacoidei
- familyIguanodectidae Eigenmann, 1909
- subfamilyIguanodectinae Eigenmann, 1909
- genusIguanodectes Cope, 1872
- speciesIguanodectes spilurus (Günther, 1864)
Close classified relatives
These entries share the source’s genus, Iguanodectes. They are not necessarily the closest relatives established by molecular evidence.
| Species | Classification | Source status |
|---|---|---|
| Iguanodectes variatus Géry, 1993 | IguanodectidaeChordata | Accepted speciesExtinction status not supplied |
| Iguanodectes gracilis Géry, 1993 | IguanodectidaeChordata | Accepted speciesExtinction status not supplied |
| Iguanodectes purusii (Steindachner, 1908) | IguanodectidaeChordata | Accepted speciesExtinction status not supplied |
| Iguanodectes adujai Géry, 1970 | IguanodectidaeChordata | Accepted speciesExtinction status not supplied |
Names & synonyms
Names explicitly linked to this accepted taxon in the source. Synonymy can change with revision.
| Recorded name | Source status |
|---|---|
| Piabuca spilurus Günther, 1864 Günther, 1864 | synonym |
| Iguanodectes tenuis Cope, 1872 Cope, 1872 | synonym |
Source literature & publication evidence
References attached to this source record, including nomenclatural citations where supplied. This is a selected bibliography; abbreviated citations remain in the source’s form.
- https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=1020498 Source fields: Taxon.tsv dwc:namePublishedIn, Taxon.tsv dcterms:references
Origins, evidence & remaining research
Name authority and publication references document nomenclature where the source supplies it. They do not establish evolutionary origins or the earliest fossil occurrence.
Specimen-level evidence, morphology, ecological research, phylogenetic studies, a comprehensive bibliography and a located literary passage have not yet been compiled for this record. A suitable sourced image remains to be added.
Dataset citation & attribution
This exact taxon in ChecklistBank · Catalogue of Life 2026-09-11
Catalogue of Life 2026-09-11; dataset 316321; doi:10.48580/dgz5n. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ . Retrieved 5 October 2026.
Stable key: col:6N6QZ. Classification follows source parent identifiers. English common names may vary by region.