Chirostoma

Chirostoma
Temporal range:
Pliocene to Present
Chirostoma lucius (above)

Chirostoma estor (below)

Scientific classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Atheriniformes
Family: Atherinopsidae
Subfamily: Menidiinae
Tribe: Mendiniini
Genus: Chirostoma
Swainson, 1839
Type species
Atherina humboldtiana
Valenciennes 1835
Synonyms
  • Atherinichthys Bleeker, 1853
  • Atherinoides Bleeker, 1853
  • Charalia F. de Buen, 1945
  • Eslopsarum D.S. Jordan & B.W. Evermann, 1896
  • Heterognathus Girard, 1855
  • Lethostole D.S. Jordan & B.W. Evermann, 1896
  • Ocotlanichthys F. de Buen, 1945
  • Otalia F. de Buen, 1945
  • Palmichthys F. de Buen, 1945

Chirostoma is a genus of Neotropical silversides from the Lerma River basin in Mexico, including lakes Chapala and Pátzcuaro. Fish in the genus collectively go by the common name charal/charales in their native range (a name also used for the related Poblana). They are heavily fished, but several of the species have become threatened due to habitat loss (pollution, water extraction and drought), introduced species and overfishing. Three species are considered extinct: C. bartoni (disappeared 2006), C. charari (1957) and C. compressum (1900). Four others have not been recorded recently and may also be extinct.

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