Hyphessobrycon elachys

Among the smallest species of tetra is  Hyphessobrycon elachys , the veilfin tetra from Paraguay. The species becomes only 1.5-2 cm long (standard length without caudal fin). The charming animals inhabit swampy areas in the Rio Paraguay drainage. The genus  Hyphessobrycon , as it is currently defined, represents an artifical assamblage of species which are not very closely related. So the placement of  H. elachys  in  Hyphessobrycon  is only provisionally and for sure it will be placed in another genus in case of a revision of  Hyphessobrycon . The veilfin tetra is unique by the shape of the anal fin in males, the very long ventral fins in males and teeth structures.