Mesonauta egregius Kullander & Silfvergrip 1991

This species is distinguished by the lower metamerie meristics than its congeners: dorsal fin count usually XIV.ll instead of XV.l0-l1, anal fin count usually VILlI which is not found in other Mesonauta species, El row scales usually 24 instead of 25 or 26, vertebrae 13+13 instead of 12+14 or 13+14. Bar 6 is split ventrally, but unlike in M. mirificus with similar pattem, there are no horizontal stripes along the sides . It is distinguished from the geographically c!ose M. insignis also by deeper body (50.7-55.6%SL vs 47.6-53.4%SL) and shorter snout (8.9-11.0% vs 1O.2-13.0%SL), and by having plain coloured instead of reticulated dorsal pigment pattern (ref. 86444).

In shallow water among aquatic plants (Ref. 40602).

Mesonauta egregius is a species of cichlid fish native to the Meta and Vichada River basins (both tributaries of the Orinoco) in South America. It is typically found near aquatic plants in shallow water and reaches a standard length up to 8.2 cm (3.2 in).