{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Taxon",
  "slug": "x-ray-tetra",
  "name": "X-ray Tetra",
  "scientificName": "Pristella maxillaris",
  "category": "Fish",
  "summary": "The X-ray tetra is a small, translucent freshwater fish from the Amazon basin whose see-through body reveals its backbone and a silvery swim-bladder capsule. Hardy and peaceful, it lives in large schools, eats small invertebrates and plant matter, and usually lives 3 to 5 years.",
  "conservationStatus": "Least Concern",
  "taxonomy": {
    "kingdom": "Animalia",
    "phylum": "Chordata",
    "class": "Actinopterygii",
    "order": "Characiformes",
    "family": "Characidae",
    "genus": "Pristella"
  },
  "stats": {
    "weightKg": 0.0008,
    "lengthM": 0.05,
    "topSpeedKmh": 10,
    "lifespanYears": 4
  },
  "facts": [
    {
      "label": "Scientific name",
      "value": "Pristella maxillaris"
    },
    {
      "label": "Diet",
      "value": "Omnivore (small invertebrates, plant matter)"
    },
    {
      "label": "Habitat",
      "value": "Coastal Amazon rivers and floodplains"
    },
    {
      "label": "Lifespan",
      "value": "3–5 years"
    },
    {
      "label": "Weight",
      "value": "Under 1 g"
    },
    {
      "label": "Length",
      "value": "Up to about 5 cm (2 in)"
    },
    {
      "label": "Conservation status",
      "value": "Least Concern (IUCN)"
    }
  ],
  "range": {
    "nativeRange": "Clearwater and coastal rivers and floodplains of the Amazon and Orinoco basins in South America.",
    "continents": [
      "South America"
    ]
  },
  "sources": [
    {
      "citation": "IUCN Red List — Pristella maxillaris.",
      "url": "https://www.iucnredlist.org/search?query=Pristella%20maxillaris&searchType=species"
    },
    {
      "citation": "Animal Diversity Web — Pristella maxillaris. University of Michigan Museum of Zoology.",
      "url": "https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Pristella_maxillaris/"
    },
    {
      "citation": "Wikipedia — X-ray Tetra.",
      "url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pristella_maxillaris"
    }
  ],
  "lastReviewed": "2026-07-16",
  "canonicalUrl": "https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/x-ray-tetra/",
  "license": {
    "name": "CC BY-NC 4.0",
    "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/",
    "attribution": "Global Animal Guide — https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/x-ray-tetra/",
    "note": "Free to reuse for non-commercial purposes with attribution and a link back to the canonical page."
  }
}