Author: Kner, 1858
Remark: Eschmeyer (1998: 994) syntype designation of BMNH 1928.1.24:10 <i>Myletes maculatus</i> Kner 1858 currently placed under <i>Metynnis</i>, is erroneous. Recent (10 Feb. 1978) and local syntype designations of NMW 57058 collected from Rio Negro, Brazil are erroneous. See Jégu & Santos (2001) for detailed morphology and distribution. See Martins-Santos, Julio-Jr. & Santos (1994) and Nakayama, Porto & Feldberg (2000) for cytogenetic study.
Comments: Occurs usually in small groups of up to 20 individuals which appear to have a definite range within a pond or a creek.  Observed to be active mainly during the day.  Larger fish extend their foraging until about 9 at night.  where it stays in the shallows near the bottom, sheltered among vegetation (Ref. 9080).  Larvae and juveniles hide and feed within the root tangle of water hyacinths, which also act as a dispersal agent during floods (Ref. 40399).  Larvae feed on
  microscopic crustaceans and small aquatic insects; very small size juveniles (about 1.2 cm)
  already clip fins of other fishes (Ref. 40399).  Juveniles and adults feed mostly on fins and muscle portions of fishes (Ref. 9080, 40398).  Adults may scavenge on dead mammals, including humans (Ref. 40400).  Attacks on humans with bite outbreaks may occur in dammed
  portions of rivers during the breeding season, related to brood protection by the spawning
  adults (Ref. 50802).