Editing Common hatchetfish (section)

{{Short description|Species of fish}}
{{Speciesbox
| name = Common hatchetfish
| image = Gasteropelecus sternicla.JPG
| image_caption = ''Gasteropelecus sternicla''
| taxon = Gasteropelecus sternicla
| authority = ([[Carl Linnaeus|Linnaeus]], [[10th edition of Systema Naturae|1758]])
}}
[[File:Cuyuni fish - This specimen is Gasteropelecus sternicla, also known as a freshwater hatchetfish.jpg|thumb|262x262px|Cuyuni fish (Gasteropelecus sternicula) of [[Guyana]]]]

The '''common hatchetfish''' or '''river hatchetfish''' (''Gasteropelecus sternicla'') is a [[tropical]] [[fish]] belonging to the [[freshwater hatchetfish]] family ([[Gasteropelecidae]]). Originating in [[South America]] in the [[Peru]]vian and middle [[Amazon Basin|Amazon]], the [[Guianas]] and [[Venezuela]], it grows to about {{convert|2.5|in|cm}}. The fish gets its name from its relatively large protruding belly which resembles a [[hatchet]]. Hatchetfish will often jump out of the water when alarmed, propelled by their large, winglike [[pectoral fin]]s. They also jump to catch small aerial insects.