Moema (fish)
| Moema | |
|---|---|
| Holotype of Moema juanderibaensis | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Cyprinodontiformes |
| Family: | Rivulidae |
| Genus: | Moema W. J. E. M. Costa, 1989 |
| Type species | |
| Moema piriana Costa, 1989 | |
| Synonyms | |
|
Aphyolebias Costa, 1998 | |
Moema is a genus of fish in the family Rivulidae. These annual killifish are mostly restricted to the Amazon basin in Bolivia, Brazil and Peru, but a few inhabit the upper Essequibo basin in Guyana, upper Orinoco basin in Venezuela and upper Paraguay basin in Brazil. They inhabit temporary waters, such as swamps or ponds, in primary forests. Once the water disappears, the adults die, but the eggs that have been laid in the bottom remain, only hatching after 3–10 months when the water returns. They rapidly reach adult size, but generally only live a few months after hatching, although captives (not subjected to disappearing water) can live longer.
They are small fish, with the largest species up to 18 cm (7.1 in) in total length.