Latin names

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Actually the Ctenolucius hujeta is a single species of fish, this is why I prefer the latin or linnean taxonomic designation. As you have found, common names vary a lot depending on who you talk to. In LFS they are most commonly sold as freshwater barracudas, rocket gar, slantnosed gar, silver gar, or even SA needlefish. Sometimes they are called silver pike-characin, gar characin, or also agujeta. All of these are just common names and most can be applied to other fish as well. The LFS often sell under the name that the fish was supplied to them under but they also tend to sell any long, slender, predator as some type of pike, gar, or barracuda, I guess they sell better that way.

No matter what name the hujeta is sold under it is a fairly small predatory fish that in Linnean terms breaks down this way,
Class- Actinopterygii (ray-finned fish)
Order- Characiformes (Characins)
Family- Ctenoluciidae (Pike-characids)
Genus- Ctenolucius
Species- hujeta

This breakdown will always get you the same fish.
 
Thanks Guppy

however, i have googled Ctenolucius hujeta and there is a dwarf gar growing about 20-30cm. however there is another fish the comes up, the freshwater barracuda growing 60-70cm. these both come up when Ctenolucius hujeta is googled. how do i ensure i buy the smaller one (the have so many common names!) as opposed to the barracuda?

Thanks
Matt
 
hujetas get to 70cm in the wild.
ive never seen one past a foot in captivity.
all those names are used for this fish.
 
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