Both fish species inhabit waters located into the Amazon rainforest roughly 25 miles north of the Brazilian city of Apuí.
Two species of Amazonian fish are facing extinction due to deforestation, even though they've only just been discovered.
In a new study, scientists have described the two new fish – one with striking red-orange fins and the other so small it is officially considered 'miniature'.
Both species inhabit waters located in the Amazon rainforest roughly 25 miles north of the Brazilian city of Apuí.
However, ongoing deforestation in the region means these newly-found fish are already in 'imminent danger of extinction'.
The more colorful of the two species of the newly-described fish, Poecilocharax callipterus. Its average size is just over an inch
The other species, Poecilocharax rhizophilus, is considered miniature fish since they are never longer than one inch. Pictured is a female adult
TWO FISH NEW TO SCIENCE 'IN DANGER OF EXTINCTION' FISH 1 Name: Poecilocharax callipterus Size: Up to 1.22 inches (3.9cm) Distinguishing features: Red-orange fins; dark spot just in front of its tail FISH 2 Name: Poecilocharax rhizophilus Size: Up to 0.91 inches (2.95cm) Distinguishing features: Amber yellow; silver belly; males have dark streaks on dorsal and anal fins Advertisement
The researchers, based in the US and Brazil, have detailed their new findings in a paper published today in the Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society.
'It was exciting to find new species,' said study author Murilo Pastana, a researcher at Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History in Washington DC.
'But in the field, we saw the forest on fire, logging trucks carrying out huge trees, and cleared patches turned into cattle pasture.
'This made us feel a lot of urgency to document these species and publish this paper as quickly as possible.'
The fish are part of a group called Crenuchidae, known colloquially as the 'South American darters' for their rapid movements.
The study has confirmed the link between these two new closely related species…
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