Makunaima Explained

Makunaima is a genus of freshwater fish in the family Characidae of the order Characiformes.

They are all endemic to freshwater habitats in South America.

Taxonomy and systematics

This genus was erected in 2020. The species were formerly allocated to Astyanax.^[1]

Etymology

Etymologically, the genus name alludes to "Makunaima" (also transcribed as "Macunaima" or "Makonaima"), the name of a creator god for various ethnic groups in the Amazon.^[1]

Species

There are three recognized species in this genus:^[2]

Notes and References

1. Guillermo E. Terán. Mauricio F. Benitez. J. Marcos Mirande. Opening the Trojan horse: phylogeny of Astyanax, two new genera and resurrection of Psalidodon (Teleostei: Characidae). 2020. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. 190. 4. 1217–1234. 10.1093/zoolinnean/zlaa019.
2. Bailly, Nicolas. 2021. Makunaima Terán, Benitez & Mirande, 2020. 1495554. 24 December 2023.