Order Characiformes
Family Lebiasinidae
Subfamily Pyrrhulininae
Genus Pyrrhulina.
— Eye Lined Pyrrhulina — Pyrrhulina rachoviana [Myers, 1926]. (Eng. Eye Lined Pyrrhulina, Fanning Pyrrhulina, Red Spotted Pyrrhulina). Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay River. 4 cm. The male is slimmer than the female, his anal fin is pointed. dH 3-8°; pH 6-7; T 20-25°C.
— Pyrrhulina spilota — Pyrrhulina spilota [Weitzman, I960]. Peru, Amazon River basin. 7 cm. Body elongated, moderately compressed laterally. Caudal peduncle short, powerful. Dorsal fin small, caudal fin rounded, very slightly notched at the posterior edge. Coloration ranges from olive-golden to brownish-yellow with a lilac sheen. In the lower half of the body above the base of the pelvic fins, anal fin, and in the lower part of the caudal peduncle, there is a dark spot. A black stripe runs from the mouth through the eye and ends behind the head.
Fins are almost colorless, transparent, pale yellow. The caudal and dorsal fins are edged with a white border, which can have a bluish or bluish-white shade, making the fish easily noticeable in the aquarium. The orange anal fin has several black spots and a black border. The pelvic fins may also have a black border and are reddish in color. During spawning, the spots on the fish’s body disappear, as does the stripe starting at the mouth. Instead, the male develops a blackish spot behind the head, and the scales on the flanks acquire a strong metallic sheen. The dorsal fin turns red, and a black dot appears in the lower part of the iris. The male has pointed pelvic fins, while the female’s are rounded.
A hierarchical ladder is formed within the shoal. At the same time, the dominant male grows much larger — up to 10 cm. Aggressive towards other males, the fish occupy territories among vegetation and chase away rivals. Because of this, they require a large aquarium with dense plantings. Mature at 10 months. T 23-26°C; dH up to 15°; pH 5.8-7.0.
— Banded Pyrrhulina — Pyrrhulina vittata [Regan, 1912]. (Eng. Banded Pyrrhulina). Lower Amazon River basin. 4-6 cm. Body elongated, moderately compressed laterally. Dorsal fin located on the rear half of the body. Back olive-brown, flank ochre-yellow with a greenish sheen, belly whitish, often with a reddish tint. A thin black line runs from the mouth through the eye and operculum, ending at the level of the pectoral fins.
There are three dark spots on the sides, located at the bases of the pelvic, anal, and caudal fins. Fins range from colorless to slightly reddish, with a dark spot on the dorsal fin. The male is more intensely colored, with red anal and pelvic fins. The upper lobe of the male’s caudal fin is usually longer than the lower one. The female is fuller and has a duller coloration.
Peaceful, not very active fish, inhabiting the upper and middle water layers; when disturbed, they immediately hide in plant thickets. Despite the fact that males are aggressive towards each other, the fish should still be kept in a shoal of 6-8 individuals. The aquarium must be relatively large and long. Males are aggressive towards each other. They can be kept in a community aquarium with thickets and several plants with shortened stems and wide leaves located far apart, as the male establishes and fiercely guards its territory around them during the spawning period.
Jumpy, fish are capable of leaping high out of the water, so the aquarium must be covered with a lid. They prefer soft, acidic, clean water with a strong current. A high-performance water filter providing strong water pressure is necessary to simulate a strong water current. The fish feed on live and frozen foods, and do not eat dry food. dH 5-20°; pH 6.0-7.5; T 23-27°C.
— Zigzag Pyrrhulina — Pyrrhulina zigzag [Zarske & Gery, 1997]. (Eng. Zigzag Pyrrhulina). Peru, Amazon. 4 cm. Elongated body shape. A black zigzag stripe runs from the nose to the tail. Fins yellowish, with anal, pectoral, and pelvic fins having a reddish tint. The dorsal fin has a dark spot and elongated rays. The rays of the caudal fin are also elongated.
Aquarium with plenty of plants, including broad-leaved ones. Sometimes slightly aggressive towards their own species, they live in harmony with other aquarium inhabitants. Females are less aggressive. Good filtration with rapid water circulation creating a current is required. T 24-27°C; pH 6.0-7.5; dH up to 15°.
Identification: Genus Pyrrhulina — Pyrrhulina spilota, vittata, zigzag.
Nannostomus anduzei, bifasciatus, beckfordi.
Pyrrhulina brevis, beni, eleanorae, filamentosa, laeta. 
