About Hyphessobrycon eques (Steindachner, 1882)
The serpae tetra, scientifically named Hyphessobrycon eques (Steindachner, 1882), reaches a maximum standard length of 4 cm (1.6 in). Its body is laterally compressed and deep in profile. The fish has an overall reddish-olive body color, which brightens to scarlet along the flanks. It features a comma-shaped black humeral spot. The dorsal fin is black, while the anal and caudal fins are red. This species has a disjunct native range, with separate subpopulations in the Amazon basin of Brazil, and across the La Plata basin in Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay and Uruguay. It has also been introduced to French Guiana and eastern Brazil. Serpae tetras prefer habitats with slow-flowing tributaries, floodplain lakes, and associated flooded environments. They readily colonize human-made aquatic habitats, including artificial ponds and reservoirs, and are typically found near submerged aquatic vegetation.
